Pope Francis garnered the attention of Catholics and non-Catholics alike because of his messages, not just about doctrine but also about social issues.
He highlighted how the realities of life impact our spirituality and human relationships, which he made visible by reaching out to people of other religions.
Almost all of the pope’s 47 apostolic visits included an interreligious meeting. Through these dialogues, he showed the world that he did not have second thoughts about reaching out even to those outside the Church, whom he considers our fellow travelers in this common home.
Signing the ‘Document on Human Fraternity’
Perhaps the most notable interfaith action by the pope was the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar.
During the Holy Father’s visit to the United Arab Emirates on February 4, 2019, he joined Ahmad Al-Tayyeb in making a religious milestone through this written testament of faith collaboration and agreement.
The document serves as an appeal from the Catholic Church and Islam for a ceasefire around the world, particularly in those conflicts rooted in terrorism and religious hate.
“These tragic realities are the consequence of a deviation from religious teachings. They result from political manipulation of religions and interpretations made by religious groups,” they wrote.
They also stressed that “freedom is a right of every person” and “each individual enjoys the freedom of belief, thought, expression, and action.”
“The fact that people are forced to adhere to a certain religion or culture must be rejected, as too the imposition of a cultural way of life that others do not accept,” they said.
The pontiff and the Grand Imam also called out the discriminatory use of the term “minorities,” the recognition of women’s rights, and the total protection of family and human life.
Before the first anniversary of the document’s signing, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution establishing the International Day of Human Fraternity every February 4.
Publication of ‘Fratelli tutti’
Francis’ third encyclical, “Fratelli tutti,” was published in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, which he famously dedicated to Sheikh Al-Tayyeb.
Inspired by the words of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Holy Father highlighted the role of religion in fostering human fraternity and peace.
“A journey of peace is possible between religions. Its point of departure must be God’s way of seeing things,” he wrote.
Lamenting society’s obsession over “throwaway culture,” he stressed how “better politics” can help get rid of individualism, poverty, environmental crisis, and profit-seeking measures that gradually destroy the world.
Francis also highlighted how populism must be disregarded since it manipulates public sentiment and why human dignity should always be prioritized over financial markets.
Visit Christian-minority nations
Francis made history in 2021 as the first-ever head of the Catholic Church to complete an apostolic visit to Muslim-dominated Iraq despite pandemic restrictions.
During his visit, he met with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the highest authority among Iraq’s Shiite Muslims.
The Holy Father also made a pilgrimage to the war-torn city of Mosul, where Iraqi security forces and the Islamic State (IS) clashed in fierce battles. He also celebrated Mass in Baghdad shortly after the IS attacks in the area.
In his last apostolic visit to several Asia-Pacific nations in late 2024, Pope Francis traveled to Indonesia, home to the largest population of Muslims in the world.
He visited the Istiqlal Mosque, the largest of its kind in Asia, and signed a joint declaration promoting the defeat of "the culture of violence and indifference” with Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar.
Moreover, Francis will be remembered for his historic visits to the Great Synagogue in Rome, the Auschwitz death camp, and other Muslim-dominated countries, including Egypt, Bahrain, and Jordan.
He was also the first pope to personally meet the leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a delegation of about 100 Buddhist monks in Thailand.
“We are interconnected and interdependent,” said Francis. “God is for everyone, and therefore, we are all God’s children,” he also said. The Holy Father, now in the bosom of the Lord, has left not just the Catholic Church but the entire world with one simple reminder: humanity can achieve its fullest potential only if we learn to accept our differences and work together.
If there are no invisible barriers dividing us, then no ideology, belief, or concept could destroy us, and the pope exemplified this throughout his life as a true builder of bridges.
