Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Seoul (Fides Service) - In a ceremony to mark the 40th anniversary of the declaration Nostra Aetate issued by the Second Vatican Council the newly elected president of the Korean Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Augustine Cheong Myeng-Cho said “In our day we have a desperate need of the spirit of the declaration Nostra Aetate issued 40 years ago. I hope all religions will always be ready to work together for the good of humanity through sincere dialogue, despite the different teachings of our faiths”. Nostra Aetate was promulgated by Pope Paul VI on 27 October 1965.
The ceremony was attended by Christians as well as Buddhists, Muslims, Jews and Hindus. Participants stressed the importance of Nostra Aetate which they said opened a new season of dialogue among religions in the modern world. The ceremony was followed by a study seminar on various aspects of inter-religious dialogue organised by the Catholic University Seoul with the Korean Bishops’ Commission for Ecumenism and Inter-religious dialogue.
The participants agreed that Nostra Aetate was like a bridge between the Catholic Church and believers of other religions and has led to many initiatives on both sides to foster world peace and reconciliation. The seminar said the Declaration opened a new era in relations and laid the bases for frank theological dialogue, helping to overcome prejudice, misunderstanding and hostilities of the past and promoting reciprocal respect, cooperation and friendship among religious leaders and communities all over the world. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 8/11/2005 righe 28 parole 291
