Pope Francis' heir: an appeal for peace and interreligious dialogue

Pope Francis' heir: an appeal for peace and interreligious dialogue

Wien, Österreich - On April 24, 2025, a discussion took place in the “night flight” show about the pontificate of Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday. In the round with the interlocutors Eva Schütz, Bernhard Heinzlmaier and Ralf Schöllhammer, Francis' commitment to peace and interreligious understanding was recognized. Nevertheless, critical comments on his attempts to reform within the church and its supposedly one -sided political attitude were also loud.

Especially Schöllhammer pleaded for a conservative successor who ideally should be an African cardinal with a clear attitude. In the second part of the discussion, the focus was on social interaction with religion. Heinzlmaier critically commented on Islam, which he describes as ideologically shaped and described violent, and sees today's Catholicism as largely disempowered.

dialog with non-Christians

Pope Francis had emphasized in his offices how important it is to ask Christian believers to counter relatives of non-Christian religions with warmth, conviviality and fraternity. He expressed this request during an audience of the dicasterry for interreligious dialogue. He spoke about the challenges of the contemporary world, which is often not sibling and sociable, and warned that dialogue as a means between indifference and violent protest. In this context he also quotes his encyclical "Fratelli Tutti".

Francis describes humanity as part of a large mosaic that only gives a complete picture through cooperation and community. Conclusion he sees as a way to design a future together and to overcome social fragmentation, whereby the identity of the other must be respected.

interreligious dialogues and future congresses

At a congress of the leaders of the world and traditional religions, which took place in Kazakhstan on September 15, 2022, Francis once again spoke about the need for interreligious dialogue. In his speech, he made it clear that people and their well -being are about strategic and economic goals. He emphasized the importance of the family and demanded that the needs of children, adolescents and the elderly look into account.

The explanation of the congress emphasizes pluralism and the differences in religion, skin color, gender, race and language as an expression of the divine will and comprises 35 points to continue the dialogue activities. Francis calls on heads of state and government to give up aggressive rhetoric and end conflicts, and ties in with the explanation of Abu Dhabi from 2019.

The next congress is planned for 2025 in only sultan, and Francis remains a central figure in the endeavor for interreligious understanding. His message to promote dialogue and pay attention to human values remains of great relevance even after his death.