"The Church is Catholic", i.e. "a community that embraces peoples of all races and languages, and is not limited to any special culture or social, economic or political system", because "it is at the service of the whole human family, freely sharing its gifts for everyone’s good". This was repeated today by the Pope, who, in receiving in audience the bishops of Bangladesh, lingered on the role played by the Church in promoting social "tolerance, moderation and understanding", as the source of "stability, mutual respect and social harmony". "All men and women have a duty to pursue the truth", warned Benedict XVI as he pointed out the "initiatives" taken by the Church of Bangladesh for inter-religious dialogue, "conducted in a spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation, in truth and freedom". "Dialogue he added based on mutual respect and on the truth, cannot but have a positive influence on the social climate of our country". A task, this one, the "sensitivity" of which requires "that priests and lay people be well prepared" so that they have "a deeper knowledge of their faith and will be helped to grow in their understanding of Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and the other religions of your region".
