The first major event on the Pope’s schedule in Kazakhstan took place on Wednesday morning in the nation’s capital of Nur-Sultan when he addressed participants at the 7th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.

The two-day meeting, which takes place every three years, has brought together religious leaders from around the world to focus this time on how religious leaders can foster the spiritual and social development in the post-pandemic world. Over 100 delegations from 50 countries are attending the Congress, made up of religious, cultural, civil, governmental, and non-governmental representatives.

Drawn by the infinite

Pope Francis travelled to Kazakhstan to participate personally in this meeting, following the invitation of the nation’s president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

In his opening speech the Pope began by addressing everyone as “brothers and sisters…in the name of the fraternity that unites us as children of the same Heaven.” He noted that “before the mystery of the infinite that transcends and attracts us, the religions remind us that we are creatures…not omnipotent…journeying towards the same heavenly goal.” 

This shared nature then creates naturally “a common bond, an authentic fraternity,” said the Pope, recalling how the Central Asian nation of Kazakhstan throughout history has been a land of encounter involving ideas, faiths, and trade as in the ancient silk route.

He expressed hopes for the encounter of religions to be always based on human relationships marked by “respect, sincere dialogue, respect for the inviolable dignity of each human being, and mutual cooperation.”

Religious leaders together in Nur-Sultan

Authentic religiosity

He quoted throughout his address Kazakhstan’s most renowned poet and the father of its modern literature, Abai (1845-1904), whose writings reflect deep religious devotion and “the noble soul of this people.”

He recalled how Abai frequently addressed the ultimate questions about life and meaning to cultivate a spirituality, and quoting him, the Pope said this keeps “the soul alive and the mind clear,” and that people count on people of faith to be “examples of souls alive and minds clear” as well as reflecting “an authentic religiosity.”

The Pope recalled that fundamentalism “defiles and corrupts every creed” and that we must have “open and compassionate hearts.”  

Religious freedom

Pope Francis then noted the importance of religious freedom as “an essential condition for genuinely human and integral development.” Created free, every person “has the right to render public testimony to his or her own creed, proposing it without ever imposing it,” through proselytism or indoctrination.

Reflecting on the theme of this Congress looking at how to offer spiritual and social support in a post-pandemic world, the Pope focused on four challenges we all face and in special way urged religions to work together toward a greater unity of purpose.

Pope Francis with other religious leaders

Vulnerability and responsibility

The Covid-19 pandemic put everyone “in the same boat,” the Pope observed, adding how it exposed our common vulnerability and need for help.

He praised the “powerful sense of solidarity” that resulted from the pandemic but warned that we must not squander it. Here he said religions are “called to be present on the front lines, as promoters of unity amid the grave challenges that risk dividing our human family even further.”

The Pope then added that believers are “called to care” for humanity and become “artisans of communion, witnesses of a cooperation that transcends the confines of our community, ethnic, national and religious affiliations.” He said we begin by listening to the poor, the neglected, the helpless who “suffer in silence and general disregard.”

Challenge of Peace

The second global challenge the Pope highlighted is the challenge of peace.

Although discussed by religious leaders especially in recent decades, the scourge of war and confrontation still plagues the world, he observed. This requires a “leap forward” by the great religions to actively unite and commit to peace, the Pope said, if people of our day are to be inspired to engage in respectful and responsible dialogue. 

Fraternal acceptance

The third challenge facing us is “fraternal acceptance,” the Pope explained, noting how every day “children, born and unborn, migrants and elderly persons, are cast aside…yet every human being is sacred.”

It is especially the task of the religions to remind the world of this, the Pope said, recalling the massive exodus of people today caused by war, poverty and climate change. He said,..

Care for our common home

The final challenge we all face is “care for our common home,” that we protect the natural environment from the damage we cause through pollution, exploitation, and devastation.

He noted how “the mindset of exploitation” is destroying our common home and leading to “an eclipse of the respectful and religious vision of the world willed by the Creator.” 

Going forward together

In conclusion, Pope Francis encouraged everyone to “go forward together, so that the journey of the religions may be increasingly marked by friendship.”