From: b sabha <bcsabha.kal...@gmail.com>
http://www.ucanindia.in/news/pope-calls-for-respectful-dialogue-with-other-religions/31349/daily Pope calls for respectful dialogue with other religions | UCAN India<http://www.ucanindia.in/news/pope-calls-for-respectful-dialogue-with-other-religions/31349/daily> www.ucanindia.in Francis helps close eucharistic congress with video message. Francis helps close eucharistic congress with video message. Posted on February 1, 2016, 11:12 PM * * * [Share on facebook] <http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://www.ucanindia.in/news/pope-calls-for-respectful-dialogue-with-other-religions/31349/daily/&t=Pope%20calls%20for%20respectful%20dialogue%20with%20other%20religions> * * * [http://www.ucanindia.in/images/rss.gif] <http://www.ucanindia.in/feed/rss1/31349> * [http://www.ucanindia.in/images/email.gif] <http://www.ucanindia.in/mail/pagemail/31349> * [share this post] <https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ucanindia.in%2Fnews%2Fpope-calls-for-respectful-dialogue-with-other-religions%2F31349%2Fdaily&title=Pope%20calls%20for%20respectful%20dialogue%20with%20other%20religions%20%7C%20UCAN%20India&description=Francis%20helps%20close%20eucharistic%20congress%20with%20video%20message.> * [Print] [http://www.ucanindia.in/uploads/news/2016/2/1454348762.jpg] An estimated 1.5 million people join the religious procession on Jan. 29 during the 51st International Eucharistic Congress in Cebu. (Photo by Angie de Silva) Cebu city: Pope Francis urged Catholics in Asia to commit to "respectful dialogue" with followers of other religions in a video message at the closing Mass of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress in Cebu City on Jan. 31. "This prophetic witness most often takes place, as we know, through the dialogue of life," Pope Francis told more than 1 million people, including some 12,500 delegates from 73 countries, who attended the weeklong international gathering. Through the "testimony of lives transformed by God's love," Catholics best proclaim the promise of "reconciliation, justice and unity for the human family," he said. The pontiff urged Catholics to "go forth as missionaries to bring the message of the Father's tenderness and mercy" and follow Jesus' example by reaching out to others in a "spirit of respect and openness in order to share with them the gifts we ourselves have received." "We are called to bring the bond of God's merciful love to the whole humanity," said Pope Francis, adding that every Catholic is called to bring the good news of Christ's "redemptive love to a world in such need of reconciliation, justice and peace." "Christ's presence among us is not only a consolation, but also a promise and a summons," he said, adding that it is important for every Christian "to be a true missionary disciple" in the midst of conflicts, injustices and humanitarian crises being experienced around the world. "We know how important it was for Jesus to share meals with his disciples, but also, and especially, with sinners and the outcast," he said, adding that Jesus "was able to listen to others, to hear their stories, to appreciate their hopes and aspirations." Praise for Filipinos' resilience Pope Francis again lauded the Filipino people's faith and resilience amid disasters as he recalled his visit to the country in January last year. "I was able to witness at first hand the deep faith and resilience of its people," the pope said, adding that since the Filipino people received the faith some 500 years ago "they have given the world an example of fidelity and deep devotion to the Lord and his church. The Catholic faith arrived in the Philippines in 1521 when Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan landed on the island of Cebu. The pope said Filipinos have since then become missionaries, "speading the light of the Gospel in Asia and to the ends of the Earth." Pope Francis pointed out that even as super typhoon Haiyan devastated the country in 2013, "it also brought in the goodness of others ... an immense outpouring of solidarity, generosity, and goodness." Future of the church In his homily, Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon, the pope's personal envoy to the congress, thanked Filipinos for their hospitality and for "making us proud to be Catholics." "The fruits of [the International Eucharistic Congress] should be renewed apostolic and missionary zeal. Go and proclaim Christian hope. Philippines need hope. The church needs hope, our family needs hope," said the cardinal from Myanmar. The prelate called on Catholics to reach out to young people, saying that "instead of expecting the youth to return to the church, the church must return to the youth." "A church that neglects the youth writes its own death sentence," said Cardinal Bo. He said the Philippines is blessed with strong family integrity and a lot of young people, citing a survey that shows that 52 percent of the country's population are below 25 years old. "This is the future of the church," said Cardinal Bo, exhorting the country's leaders to invest in youth so that "you will be the strongest and richest country." "Many of the rich countries don't have children. The future doesn't belong to countries that have oil and weapons. The future belongs to nation with young people," said Cardinal Bo. Source: UCAN<http://www.ucanews.com/news/pope-calls-for-respectful-dialogue-with-other-religions/75109>
