Pope says imposing one’s religion on others is wrong

Pope Benedict XVI has appealed to Christians worldwide that their works of charity be not used as a means of converting others to Christianity. The Pope’s exhortation came in a speech he made on Monday, Feb. 20, to bishops of Senegal, Mauritania, Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau who are on their so-called ‘ad limina’ visit to Rome. Such a visit is made every 5 years or so by a bishop to report on the state of his jurisdiction. Referring to his first encyclical, “Deus Caritas Est”, or “God is Love”, the Pope, said it is wrong on the part of those who exercise charity in the name of the Church to impose one’s faith on others. Speaking to the bishops in French, the Pope stressed on the need for dialogue with Muslims, deepening brotherly relations with other communities, respecting each one’s religious freedom. Pope Benedict commended the Church’s commitment for the poorest of the poor in the region but and cautioned the bishops that Christianity should neither be reduced to a purely human wisdom nor be misunderstood as a social service, as it is a spiritual service. Hew urged the bishops to work in collaboration with the faithful of other religions, particularly Muslims, for the authentic good of persons and of society. Fraternal relations with other communities should favour a harmonious development of society, recognizing the dignity of each person and in full freedom of practicing one’s religion, the Pope added.