Text of Pope Benedict's Discourse to Religious Leaders of Galilee
(14 May 09 - RV) 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.