Pope Francis and Interreligious Dialogue

This book engages thinkers from different religious and humanist traditions in response to Pope Francis’s pronouncements on interreligious dialogue. The contributors write from the perspectives of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Humanism. Each author elaborates on how the pope’s openness to dialogue and invitation to practical collaboration on global concerns represents a significant achievement as the world faces an uncertain future. The theological tension within the Catholic double commitment to evangelization on the one hand, and dialogue on the other, remains unresolved for most writers, but this does not prevent them from praising the strong invitation to dialogue–especially with the focus on justice, peace, and ecological sustainability. 

“The reader of this volume comes away enriched not only by a better appreciation of how variegated the Pope’s contribution to interreligious relations has been but also by the critical as well as the constructive relation of Francis’s thought to the thought of other religions and their key thinkers. One imagines that this is precisely the kind of conversation that Francis himself would like to see emerging from his work.” (Alon Goshen-Gottstein, Modern Believing, Vol. 61 (2), April, 2020)

“Pope Francis and Interreligious Dialogue has earned a place on any short list of resources dealing with Francis’ engagement with various traditions and cultures. The chapters are rich, diverse, and accessible. They are appropriate for students, scholars, and lay reading groups seeking to understand Francis’ vision of cultivating a culture of [interreligious] encounter.” (Hans Gustafson, Reading Religion, August 08, 2019)

“Like the eponymous Francis of Assisi, Pope Francis transcends the boundaries of his tradition, stirring the imagination of people of all faiths and of no faith. These engaging essays, showcasing the most rigorous reflections on the joy and challenge of dialogue today, point to the promise of the first south American pope’s unprecedented commitment to global justice, creation care, and ecclesiastical transparency. They also forcefully remind us that true dialogue demands respectful acknowledgement of difference. No mere rehearsal of shopworn platitudes or wishful thinking, this book takes the daring next step in the unscripted journey of interreligious collaboration.” (Peter A. Huff, author of The Voice of Vatican II)

“This richly stimulating volume is a worthy response to Pope Francis’s invitation, extended to all of us, to join him on the path of interfaith solidarity. The authors, representing different religious traditions, demonstrate their deep appreciationfor the pope’s expansive heart and his prophetic stance toward the most vulnerable among us, by showing how their own traditions parallel and reinforce his living example of Imitatio Christi. For anyone seeking resources for fostering interreligious engagement in a world plagued by estrangement and hostility, this anthology provides both inspiration and practical wisdom.” (Yehezkel Landau, interfaith educator, peacebuilder, and author )

“This is a remarkable collection of essays by authors from a diverse range of traditions – theologically nuanced and scholarly yet also deeply personal, at times candidly ambivalent or critical but with insight and profound appreciation for the Pope’s vision of interreligious dialogue. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in Pope Francis and relations between the world’s faiths.” (Kusumita Pedersen, Professor Emerita of Religious Studies, St. Francis College, USA)

 

 

Harold Kasimow is the George Drake Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at Grinnell College, USA.

Alan Race is an Anglican priest-theologian. He is currently Chair of the World Congress of Faiths, and Editor of its journal Interreligious Insight.