Pope Francis met with 200 representatives of other religions in the
Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace on November 3 and stressed the
importance of deeds of mercy.“The mystery of mercy is not to be celebrated in words alone, but above all by deeds, by a truly merciful way of life marked by disinterested love, fraternal service and sincere sharing,” he said.
“The religions are likewise called to this way of life, in order to be, particularly in our own day, messengers of peace and builders of communion, and to proclaim, in opposition to all those who sow conflict, division and intolerance, that ours is a time of fraternity.”
The Pope spoke primarily of mercy to the needy and the weak but added that “mercy extends also to the world around us, to our common home, which we are called to protect and preserve from unbridled and rapacious consumption.”
Pope Francis concluded with a condemnation of violence in the name of religion:
Sadly, not a day passes that we do not hear of acts of violence, conflict, kidnapping, terrorist attacks, killings and destruction. It is horrible that at times, to justify such barbarism, the name of a religion or the name of God himself is invoked. May there be clear condemnation of these iniquitous attitudes that profane the name of God and sully the religious quest of mankind.