- Bishop Brendan Leahy: “Religion must unite not divide”
Statement of Bishop Leahy on his appointment to key Vatican department for Interreligious Dialogue
Bishop of Limerick Brendan Leahy has said that religions must be part of the solution to peace in the world rather than be blamed for divisions, following his appointment by Pope Leo to a key Vatican interreligious department.
The 47th bishop of Limerick has been appointed as a member of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, which is dedicated to fostering respectful and meaningful relations between the Catholic Church and other religions worldwide.
Bishop Leahy, who will continue his role in Limerick, has also been appointed previously to the Vatican’s Dicastery of Culture and Education as well as its Dicastery for Clergy – positions he continues to hold.
The Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue is one of the most strategically important bodies in the Vatican, with its work having far-reaching implications for peacebuilding, cultural understanding, and global religious cooperation.
Dicasteries exist to support the Pope in his pastoral and administrative duties. They help implement his vision and decisions across the global Church. Its objectives are to encourage mutual understanding and respect between Catholics and followers of other religions; promote collaboration in areas of shared values, like human dignity, peace, and justice and address religious tensions and work toward peaceful coexistence.
The timing of the appointment is fitting as this year marks the 60th anniversary of the Vatican II declaration, Nostra Aetate, on dialogue among religions, a foundational text that continues to guide the mission of the Catholic Church today.
Expressing his delight over the appointment, Bishop Leahy said that Pope Leo, from the very beginning of his pontification, has called our time ‘a time for dialogue and building bridges’.
“I am deeply honoured to receive this appointment from Pope Leo. Peace is something very precious, that we all yearn for and we all hurt and pain when it is absent. It is in the soul of all Christians, and this appointment is, therefore, a responsibility that I take very seriously and am truly privileged to have.”
Bishop Leahy has had a 40 year involvement in interreligious dialogues in Ireland and abroad and since his appointment as Bishop of Limerick in 2013 has been in ongoing contact with the Mid-West Interfaith Network and has visited the Mosque in Dooradoyle on a number of occasions. He has also published articles on theological aspects of interreligious dialogue.
“I am really looking forward to working closely with the members of the Dicastery in Rome in promoting the Catholic Church’s outreach to members of other faith communities.
“With so many dark clouds in our world today, it is important to recognise that religions are part of the solution. So often religions are blamed for divisions, but the reality is that religions promote values and practices that are positive contributions to community-building and harmony.
“It is those aspects of religions that need to be highlighted and lived together. The ‘Golden Rule’ is found in all religions and that is ‘do unto others as you would want done unto you’. It is no coincidence that we all share this,” he said.
Bishop Leahy also said that given the increase in Ireland in recent decades in the number of members of other religions, each needs to be open and welcoming to others. “This has brought greater diversity to our island and has enriched us. We need to open ourselves to become neighbours to one another. Young people often show us the way in this as they quite spontaneously become friends,” he added.
ENDS
- Bishop Brendan Leahy is Bishop of Limerick