Dialogue as a key: Cardinal Tagle warns of religious distrusts

Dialogue as a key: Cardinal Tagle warns of religious distrusts

In Abu Dhabi, a significant ceremony took place on February 4, 2025, in which the Zayed Prize for Sibling was awarded. Cardinal Luis Tagle pointed out that dialogue and encounter are the keys to overcome distrust between different religions. The prize went to the aid organization World Central Kitchen, which provides food aid in crisis areas, as well as to the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, for her commitment to climate change, and the young inventor Heman Bekele, who has developed an inexpensive soap for the treatment of skin cancer, such as Vaticannews reported. Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the dicasterry for the evangelization, emphasized that in an increasingly secularized world, dialogue was essential to reduce hostility.

The message of freedom

Cardinal Tagle appealed to those present to consider the dialogue as the only “antidote” against growing distrust in secular societies. "Different religious traditions have to be respected," he said, referring to the many conflicts that are fueled by political and economic interests. The Zayed Prize, which has been awarded since 2019, to promote the spirit of the "document over human fraternity" is a symbol of these efforts. To date, 16 awards have been awarded to individuals and organizations from 66 countries.

TAGLE also pointed out the challenges that religious communities are facing and demanded that the fundamental right to freedom of religion. He warned against displacing religion from public life because this would make living together difficult. "Every time we follow this path, we will truly become more human," he concluded his moving speech, which impressively underlined how important the interreligious dialogue is today to promote peace and understanding, such as FIDES