Pope Francis is embarking upon a 12-day journey by way of 4 nations in Southeast Asia and Oceania.
His intent with the voyage is to pledge the Catholic Church will fight spiritual violence whereas inspiring stronger ties to different religions.
On Thursday, the Associated Press reported the Pope made his first cease in Jakarta, Indonesia, house to the biggest Muslim inhabitants on this planet.
A notable second got here when the Pope — in a wheelchair — appeared subsequent to Indonesia’s grand imam, Nasaruddin Umar, on the entrance to the “Tunnel of Friendship” which connects Istiqlal Mosque to the close by Catholic Cathedral, Our Woman of the Assumption.
It was right here that the Pope acquired a kiss on the pinnacle from the Imam whereas kissing his hand in response.
The AP reported the Pope made feedback that very same day, saying religions “have a task to play in serving to everybody move by way of the tunnels of life with our eyes turned in the direction of the sunshine.”
The Pope pressured a message of unity between Catholics and Muslims in additional remarks.
Talking to an viewers alongside the Imam, he mentioned, by way of translation, “I encourage you to proceed alongside this path so that each one of us, all of us collectively, every cultivating his or her personal spirituality and practising his or her faith, might stroll searching for God and contribute to constructing open societies …”
He spoke additional about his imaginative and prescient for these societies, “based on reciprocal respect and mutual love, able to defending towards rigidity, fundamentalism, and extremism that are at all times harmful by no means justifiable.”
The Pope’s message right here is overly conciliatory.
Whereas he doesn’t say it outright, the implication is that there are a number of methods to God.
His message is certainly one of spiritual pluralism.
Ought to Christians settle for that view? Evaluate his phrases to these of Jesus within the Gospel of John.
In John 14:6, “Jesus mentioned to him, ‘I’m the best way, and the reality, and the life. Nobody involves the Father besides by way of me.’”
Whereas the Pope shouldn’t be brazenly hostile to a individuals who welcome him, he ought to pay heed to the Bible’s message in setting up his personal greeting.
After we domesticate our personal spirituality by way of one thing aside from Jesus Christ, we aren’t following his phrase.
Whereas his mission seems pushed by peace and diplomacy, the Pope ought to by no means say or indicate that there are every other paths than Christ.
This text appeared initially on The Western Journal.
