Cultural dialogue in focus at Hungary conference

The President of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerant People, Archbishop Antonio Maria Veglio, delivered an address today to the participants in an international Conference on dialogue among Muslims, Christians and Jews.

The conference opened Wednesday in Gödöllö, Hungary, near the capital, Budapest, and is being promoted in the context of Hungary’s turn in the Presidency of the European Union.

Among those participating are Ambassadors, government ministers and representatives of the different religious traditions, including the President of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences, Cardinal Peter Erdö of Esztergom-Budapest.

The President of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerants, Archbishop Antonio Maria Vegliò addressed the participants on Thursday, the second day of the conference, presenting a reflection on the religious and social impact of migration in the context of cultural diversity.

Archbishop Vegliò discussed the role of religion and its place in the reception of migrants, intercultural dialogue and intercultural education, recalling Pope Benedict XVI’s recent appeal for courageous and innovative faithfulness, capable of bringing together both a clear and well-formed sense of identity and authentic openness to otherness, as essential to and necessary for peaceful and fruitful coexistence in multicultural societies.

The conference closes on Friday.

Listen to Chris Altieri’s report: