Having "its roots in the huge and ancient patrimony of Athens and Rome and, above all, in the rich soil of Christianity," Europe has had, and is still having, a cultural influence on humankind as a whole, and cannot help but feeling particularly responsible not only for its future but also for the future of all humanity." This is the message addressed by the Pope to Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, and to Mgr Gianfranco Ravasi, President of the Pontifical Council for Culture, and to all the participants to the meeting scheduled for December 4 at the Vatican on the theme "cultures and religions in dialogue" promoted by the two dicasteries in the framework of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue. In the statement released today by the Holy See Press Office, the Pope pointed out that "nowadays, as our contemporaries are often asking fundamental questions about the meaning of life and its value," "inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue has become a priority for the European Union." "To be authentic," said the Pope, "such a dialogue must avoid relativism and syncretism and must be animated by a sincere respect of others and by a generous spirit of reconciliation and brotherhood." (continued)
