VATICAN CITY (CNS): Encouraging Christians to appreciate other religions, Pope John Paul II reaffirmed that the Holy Spirit works outside the boundaries of the Catholic Church.
Reflecting on the theme of interreligious dialogue at his weekly general audience on November 29, following an ecumenical focus in weeks past, the Pope said sacred texts of other religions “point to a future of communion with God, of purification and salvation”.
“And they encourage people to seek the truth and defend the values of life, holiness, justice, peace and freedom,” he said.
“Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, who is also at work outside the visible limits of the Church,” the Pope told some 30,000 people in St Peter’s Square, “people in every part of the world seek to adore God in an authentic way”.
While Christians bring their faith in Christ with them when engaging in interreligious dialogue, he said, “this same faith teaches them to recognise the authentic religious experiences of others”.
