Dialogue with Other Religions
Christ asks us to love unconditionally. This means Christians need to be wholeheartedly committed to reaching out to every neighbour and to be concerned for the common good.
The call to dialogue is at the heart of the Church’s vocation. We believe that especially in a multi-faith society, inter-faith engagement is essential. But the first step is always to help Christians know and understand their own faith - what we believe and why - so that together we can positively engage with people from other faith communities.
Here you'll find messages from the Vatican to mark the festivals of the world's major religions along with news and further information.
You may also want to visit our Dialogue and Unity page. Dialogue and Unity is a department of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales and has a Committee for Relations with Other Religions.
Vatican messages to other faith communities
The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, the Vatican office that promotes mutual understanding, respect and collaboration between Catholics and the followers of other religious traditions, releases messages from its president, Jean-Louis Cardinal Tauran, to celebrate the major festivals of the world's religions.
Getting to Know People of Other Faiths
The Committee for Relations with Other Religions has produced a number of useful publications. The Getting to Know People of Other Faiths leaflets offer useful information to those who want to overcome the obstacle of ignorance and promote, through dialogue, prayer and action the Catholic Church's teaching of respect and love for all peoples.
The leaflets take a closer look at Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, the Baha'i faith, Shinto, Zoroastrianism and more. There are also resources focusing on family life, sharing faith, hospital chaplaincy and more.
Read/download
Click on the links below to download leaflets from the Getting to Know people of Other Faiths series.
Our neighbour's faith and ours
What is Islam?
What is Buddhism?
Who was the Buddha?
What is Hinduism?
The Mosque
Our Sikh neighbours
What is the Baha'i faith?
Is God at work outside the Church?
Prayer and Prayers in Islam
What is Jainism?
Hindu Festivals
Aspects of Judaism
What is Shinto?
Who are the Zoroastrians?
African Traditional Religion
What is Christianity?
Muslims and the Question of Fasting
Differences within Islam
A Short Introduction to Dialogue with Muslims
Catholics and Other Faiths
Nostra Aetate
Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions
28 October, 1965
Although this Vatican document is over four decades old, the principles it lays down are as relevant today as ever - especially with ongoing tension in the Middle East and around the world.
The document finishes by pointing to Scripture to encourage us to work together as friends and neighbours describing discrimination as 'foreign to the mind of Christ'.
"The Church reproves, as foreign to the mind of Christ, any discrimination against men or harassment of them because of their race, color, condition of life, or religion. On the contrary, following in the footsteps of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, this sacred synod ardently implores the Christian faithful to "maintain good fellowship among the nations" (1 Peter 2:12), and, if possible, to live for their part in peace with all men, so that they may truly be sons of the Father who is in heaven."
Paul VI, Nostra Aetate
Read/download:
Link to Nostra Aetate on Vatican.va
Nostra Aetate The Introduction by Archbishop Kevin McDonald Nov 05
Nostra Aetate The Way Ahead by Archbishop Kevin McDonald Nov 05
Nostra Aetate 40 years on by Archbishop Kevin McDonald
Nostra Aetate Encounter Story by Sr. Roisin Hannaway Nov 05
Nostra Aetate The Changing Face of Europe by J M Gaudeul Nov 05
Nostra Aetate Dialogue of Experience by Peter Bowe Nov 05
Links
Vatican the Holy See
Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue
Inter Faith Marriage Network
Muslim/Christian Marriage Support Group
Muslims ask, Christians answer
The Golden Rule - Scarboro Missions
Pope John Paul 11 Address to the Representatives of the World Religions at Assisi on 24 January 2004
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland
Interfaith Calendar
Interfaith Network for the UK
World Conference of Religions for Peace