Pope Leo’s greeting to the delegation from
the Program for Christian-Muslim Relations in Africa
(PROCMURA)
Study beside the Audience Hall – Wednesday, 25 March 2026
Pope Leo’s Greeting:
My dear brothers and sisters,
Peace be with you!I would like to offer you a warm welcome and extend my fraternal greetings.
I would like to express my appreciation for your commitment to fostering fraternity between Christians and Muslims through the Program for Christian-Muslim Relations in Africa (PROCMURA), which is based in Kenya.
I would also like to thank the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue for its dedicated service, which enables the Church to engage in dialogue with people of other faiths and promote peace and fraternity.
The Catholic Church calls for mutual understanding and respect among followers of different religions. It affirms that the Church “rejects nothing of what is true and holy in these religions,” for they “often reflect a ray of that truth which enlightens all men and women” (Nostra Aetate, n. 2).
Indeed, ‘every authentic journey towards unity and communion undertaken by Christians and by people of goodwill is the work of the Holy Spirit and requires hearts open to encounter and dialogue, embracing one another in genuine fraternity’ (Unitatis Redintegratio, n. 4).
In this regard, your ongoing dialogue with the Dicastery is a positive sign, encouraging Christians to foster communion and strengthen our commitment to Christian-Muslim cooperation for the common good, guided by Christ’s love.
Through such efforts, peace, justice and hope will flourish ever more in African societies and beyond.
I also hope that these encounters will bear fruit through sharing grassroots initiatives to promote social friendship, strengthening partnerships and identifying areas requiring urgent action.
In an increasingly divided and conflict-ridden world, marked by religious radicalization, your shared commitment demonstrates that it is possible to live and work together in peace and harmony despite cultural and religious differences.
As I said to the Heads and Representatives of World Religions on the sixtieth anniversary of Nostra Aetate, “we share a great responsibility to help our people to break free from the chains of prejudice, anger and hatred; to help them rise above egoism and self-centeredness; to help them overcome the greed that destroys both the human spirit and the earth. In this way, we can lead our people to become prophets of our time — voices that denounce violence and injustice, heal division, and proclaim peace for all our brothers and sisters’ (Address, 28 October 2025).
With these thoughts in mind and entrusting your initiatives to divine providence, I bestow upon you abundant blessings, so that you may become artisans of peace, bearers of hope and builders of true fraternity.
It is a pleasure to be with you this morning. God bless you all!
