OPENNESS TO DIALOGUE AND COHERENCE TO RELIGIOUS TRADITION

VATICAN CITY, JUN 16, 2001 (VIS) - This morning, the Pope received participants in a meeting organized by the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue in collaboration with the Pontifical Lateran University, in memory of "the tireless commitment to inter-religious dialogue" of Bishop Pietro Rossano, on the tenth anniversary of his death.

"Serious and authentic inter-religious dialogue must rest upon solid foundations if it is to produce the desired fruits in due time. Being open to dialogue means being coherent to the core of one's own religious tradition. This is the lesson that emerges from Bishop Rossano's life."

John Paul II recalled that "in his spiritual experience and in his service to the Holy See (as secretary of the then Secretariat for Non-Christians), Bishop Rossano's openness to others was never separated from faithfulness to the teachings of Christ. This unconditional adherence to Christ did not prevent him from communicating with exponents of other religions."

"May Bishop Rossano's example," concluded the Pope, "encourage you to intensify your efforts towards dialogue, offering everyone a clear witness of the mystery of Christ, Lord and Savior of all."

AC;ROSSANO;...;...;VIS;20010618;Word: 190;