Scottish Catholic Observer

Pope Francis marked the 50th anniversary of Nostra Aetate by calling for greater interfaith collaboration.

Delegations from different religions joined the 20,000 strong crowd at the Pope’s weekly general audience in St Peter’s Square on the anniversary of the Second Vatican Council declaration on non-Christian religions.

Nostra Aetate—In Our Time—was noted for its approach in particular to the Jewish faith, rejecting anti-Semitism and emphasising ‘mutual understanding and respect,’ and stating that what happened in Christ’s passion ‘cannot be charged against all the Jews, without distinction, then alive, nor against the Jews of today.’

Pope Francis told those assembled at St Peter’s that there has been much progress over the last 50 years.

“In a special way, we give thanks to God for the significant advances made in relations between Christians and Jews, and in those between Christians and Muslims,” he said. “The world rightly expects believers to work together with all people of good will in confronting the many problems affecting our human family.

“It is my hope that the forthcoming Jubilee of Mercy will be an occasion for ever greater interreligious cooperation in works of charity, reconciliation and care for God’s gift of creation.”

At the end of his address, the Pope asked that people pray in silence ‘according to your own religious tradition’ and said we ‘ask the Lord that he makes us more brothers among ourselves, and more servants to our neediest brothers.’

– [email protected]