Youths must have ‘courage’ to hold interreligious dialogues, take conversation to wider community: Pope Francis

SINGAPORE: Holding interreligious dialogues requires courage, as it means leaving oneself open to criticism, Pope Francis said on Friday (Sep 13).
“Do you have the courage to criticise, and at the same time allow yourself to be criticised?” asked the pontiff, during an interreligious meeting with youths at Catholic Junior College (CJC) on the final day of his Singapore visit.
Dialogue among young people will also lead to dialogue at a larger level among citizens in the wider community, said Pope Francis.
He noted that criticism can be constructive or disruptive, and youths, while being critical, must also have respect for others of different faiths.
Pope Francis said that “youth is really the time of courage in our lives”.
“You can have this courage and use it for things that really don’t help you, or you can use that courage in order to move forward and to engage in dialogue,” he said.
He urged young people to be courageous and constructive, and to step out of their comfort zones to actively approach the topic of interreligious harmony.
“A young person that stays just in their own comfort and wants a comfortable life, becomes fat,” said the pontiff, to laughter from the crowd.
“Don’t let your stomach get fat, but let your head get fat. And for this reason, I say, take risks. Go out there. Don’t have fear. Don’t be afraid.”
More than 600 participants from over 50 schools and interfaith and religious organisations attended Friday morning’s event.
Mr Raaj Shukul Kumar, chief coordinator of the Inter-Religious Organisation Youth Wing, asked Pope Francis how youths who are busy figuring their lives out can continue pushing for social cohesion.
Teacher Nicole Law, a volunteer at the Archdiocesan Catholic Council for Interreligious Dialogue, asked the pontiff about balancing between the opportunities and risks from artificial intelligence.
Ms Preet Kaur Veygal, a registered nurse and secretary at Sikh Sewaks Singapore, asked how youths can manage societal challenges “given the high pressure to perform well in every aspect of life”.
Pope Francis told the youths not to be afraid of taking the wrong steps in pushing for the interreligious cause.
“Many times young people make mistakes,” he said, adding that it is normal and what truly matters is realising the mistake.
“What is worse? Make a mistake because you actually stepped forward and did something, or not make a mistake but do nothing?” the pontiff asked.
“A young person that is afraid and doesn’t take risks is an old person.”
Pope Francis added that new technology, such as mobile phones and new forms of media, has changed the way people communicate.
However, young people need to go beyond just social media, as a means of communication with others, including for fostering interreligious harmony.
“Young people need to use media, but use it so that we can move forward and not become slaves,” he said.
Pope Francis is a great advocate and proponent of peaceful coexistence, social cohesion and also interreligious understanding and dialogue, Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir, Mufti of Singapore, told CNA after the session.
He added that the pope is not just about what he says, but what he does.
“He inspired our youth in the dialogue to overcome concerns and challenges and take the risk of doing work that is becoming more and more challenging, especially in the context of the global challenges in terms of polarisation and division,” he said.
Dr Nazirudin added that the event also showcased Singapore’s “vibrant yet cohesive religious diversity”, with leaders from various religious communities, like himself, present.
He hopes the pope will see the Singapore example of how religious harmony can flourish and thrive, and take that message and spread it to the rest of the world.
Cardinal William Goh, the Archbishop of Singapore, said in his opening remarks that interreligious dialogue in Singapore has gone beyond mere tolerance or respect for other faiths. 
“Rather, we regard each other first as friends, and take active and intentional steps to foster friendships,” he said.
The leaders of the various faiths attend one another’s religious celebrations, discuss issues such as joint humanitarian projects, and support each other in times of trials, such as when terrorism strikes, said Cardinal Goh.
He shared that the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore organises an annual interreligious Christmas party, at which different religious leaders gather to share their thoughts on peace and love, followed by a Christmas meal to exchange views and ideas.
However, challenges to interreligious harmony lie ahead, he said.
“There will always be extremists at work in all religions threatening the harmonious relationships among believers of different faiths. Therefore, we do not take religious harmony in Singapore for granted,” said Cardinal Goh.
“We must intentionally keep building and renewing ties, sharing common values and celebrating our faith together. In this way, we overcome suspicion and misunderstanding and strengthen trust, especially among religious leaders.”
Religious harmony is of existential importance to Singapore and its people, as one of the world’s most religiously diverse countries, said Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong in his opening remarks.
“We have put in place laws, policies and structures that foster racial and religious harmony and help us to gather strength in diversity,” he said.
“The government works closely with our religious and community leaders to build trust and promote harmony in peacetime and even more so during crises like the recent pandemic and terror attacks.”
Earlier in the morning, Pope Francis made a visit to elderly residents at St Theresa’s Home in Upper Thomson Road.
The dialogue at CJC was his final event before he concluded his Asia-Pacific tour, and set off on his journey back to the Vatican City.