Text of Pope Benedict's Discourse to Religious Leaders of Galilee, Nazareth, Israel
(May 14, 2009) Dear Friends, Grateful for the words of welcome offered by Bishop
Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo and for your warm reception, I cordially greet the leaders
of different communities present, including Christians, Muslims, Jews, Druze and other
religious peoples. I feel particularly blessed to visit this city revered by Christians
as the place where the Angel announced to the Virgin Mary that she would conceive
by the power of the Holy Spirit. Here too Joseph, her betrothed, saw the Angel in
a dream and was directed to name the child “Jesus”. After the marvelous events surrounding
his birth, the child was brought to this city by Joseph and Mary where he “grew and
became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him” (Lk 2:40). The
conviction that the world is a gift of God, and that God has entered the twists and
turns of human history, is the perspective from which Christians view creation as
having a reason and a purpose. Far from being the result of blind fate, the world
has been willed by God and bespeaks his glorious splendor. At the heart of all
religious traditions is the conviction that peace itself is a gift from God, yet it
cannot be achieved without human endeavor. Lasting peace flows from the recognition
that the world is ultimately not our own, but rather the horizon within which we are
invited to participate in God’s love and cooperate in guiding the world and history
under his inspiration. We cannot do whatever we please with the world; rather, we
are called to conform our choices to the subtle yet nonetheless perceptible laws inscribed
by the Creator upon the universe and pattern our actions after the divine goodness
that pervades the created realm. Galilee, a land known for its religious and ethnic
diversity, is home to a people who know well the efforts required to live in harmonious
coexistence. Our different religious traditions have a powerful potential to promote
a culture of peace, especially through teaching and preaching the deeper spiritual
values of our common humanity. By molding the hearts of the young, we mold the future
of humanity itself. Christians readily join Jews, Muslims, Druze, and people of other
religions in wishing to safeguard children from fanaticism and violence while preparing
them to be builders of a better world. My dear friends, I know that you accept
cheerfully and with a greeting of peace the many pilgrims who flock to Galilee. I
encourage you to continue exercising mutual respect as you work to ease tensions concerning
places of worship, thus assuring a serene environment for prayer and reflection here
and throughout Galilee. Representing different religious traditions, you share a desire
to contribute to the betterment of society and thus testify to the religious and spiritual
values that help sustain public life. I assure you that the Catholic Church is committed
to join in this noble undertaking. In cooperation with men and women of good will,
she will seek to ensure that the light of truth, peace and goodness continue to shine
forth from Galilee and lead people across the globe to seek all that fosters the unity
of the human family. God bless you all.