Does the Pope Believe All Religions Are Equal?

by Admin · February 27, 2024

Pope Francis and Sheik Ahmad el-Tayeb, grand imam of Egypt’s al-Azhar mosque and university, embrace during an interreligious meeting at the Founder’s Memorial in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 4, 2019. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Question: How can Pope Francis really be a Catholic leader when he declared in a document signed with Muslim leaders that there is only a one-world religion?

Answer: It is always advisable to read a document before accepting what others have interpreted or imagined or invented it as saying.

During his February 2019 visit to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, Pope Francis and Sheikh Ahmad el-Tayeb, a grand imam of Sunni Muslims, signed a historic joint declaration entitled “A Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together”. Nowhere in the declaration is there a call for or even a reference to a “one-world religion”.

The line which Pope Francis’ detractors tend to cite as “evidence” that he supposedly believes that all religions are equally valid is the observation that “the pluralism and the diversity of religions, colour, sex, race and language are willed by God in his wisdom”.

Far from urging a “one world religion”, this simply acknowledges that the variety of religions comes under the permissive will of God and indicates the natural desire of humans to know God. It implies no theological equivalence.

In his papacy, Pope Francis has always emphasised interfaith dialogue and cooperation, following the example set by Pope John Paul II. It is important to understand what he means by this.

Pope Francis does not promote the idea that all religions are equal, in the sense that they all lead to the same spiritual truth. Rather, he advocates for respectful and peaceful dialogue among people of different faiths.

The pope has often spoken about the importance of building bridges and fostering mutual respect among followers of various religions as a path to peace and harmonious coexistence.

At the same time, Pope Francis remains committed to the teachings of the Catholic Church and the belief in the unique role of Christianity in proclaiming the message of Christ. He acknowledges theological differences between religions but seeks common ground where possible to work together for the benefit of society and the world.

Published in the January 2024 issue of The Southern Cross magazine