On Being Interreligious and Roman Catholic
Curated Documents & Resources
Sixty years ago, the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) launched a new era for Roman Catholics around the world. One critically important development was in the area of interfaith and interreligious relations. With the declaration Nostra Aetate (“In Our Time”) in 1965, Roman Catholics were invited and encouraged to develop the theologies and practices of dialogue with neighbors of different faiths.
In 2020, the Vatican issued Fratelli Tutti, the first major papal document to arise from an interreligious friendship and to embrace both de facto religious pluralism as the context for Catholic theological reflection, and dialogue as the primary and appropriate response to our religiously diverse world.
Over the last six decades, the Catholic Church has been a global leader in interfaith dialogue. Below are selected highlights of teachings and guidance the Roman Catholic church has created for this important work.
Photo: Pope Francis and Grand Imam of Al-Ahzar Ahmed al-Tayyeb, 2019.
Four Forms of Interreligious Dialogue
In 1990, the Roman Catholic Church identified four primary forms of interreligious dialogue in Dialogue and Proclamation (#42). These diverse forms of dialogue collectively aim to build respect, understanding, and collaboration among different religious communities. ICJS regularly engages in all four kinds of interfaith exchanges.
1. Dialogue of Life
Where people strive to live in an open and neighbourly spirit, sharing their joys and sorrows, their human problems and preoccupations.
General Examples: Sharing experiences, joys, and challenges in family, school, and work.
ICJS Example: Recognizing and Responding to Everyday Antisemitism and Islamophobia (event video).
2. Dialogue of Action
In which Christians and others collaborate for the integral development and liberation of people.
General Examples: Responding to climate change, combating poverty, and fighting corruption and injustice.
ICJS Example: Water Justice in Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Traditions (videos and discussion guides).
3. Dialogue of Theological Exchange
Where specialists [e.g. scholars, clergy & other religious experts] seek to deepen their understanding of their respective religious heritages, and to appreciate each other’s spiritual values.
General Examples: Official dialogues of the Catholic Church and representatives of Islam and/or Judaism, at the Vatican level and through the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
ICJS Examples: The ICJS Faculty Seminar.
4. Dialogue of Religious Experience
Where persons, rooted in their own religious traditions, share their spiritual riches, for instance with regard to prayer and contemplation, faith and ways of searching for God or the Absolute.
Example: Thomas Merton, a Trappist monk, and his explorations and exchanges with Zen Buddhist monks.
ICJS Example: The Emerging Religious Leaders Intensive.
Key Vatican Documents, Statements, & Encyclicals
Nostra Aetate (In Our Time)
Vatican II: Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions (1965)
Nostra Aetate was a groundbreaking document that transformed the Catholic Church’s approach to non-Christian religions. Key points include:
- Universal call—While written for Catholics, Nostra Aetate emphasizes that all people should seek out unity and cultivate loving fellowship with others.
- Shared Questions and Concerns—names several “unsolved riddles of the human condition” such as “What is the meaning, the aim of our life? What is moral good, what is sin?
- Respect for Non-Christian Religions—The document acknowledges that truth and holiness is present in other faiths, particularly naming Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism.
- Islam—In Paragraph 3, the document praises Islam for its monotheism, reverence for Jesus and Mary, and emphasis on moral living; it also acknowledges the fraught history of Catholic-Muslim relations and calls for a new way of engaging with one another.
- Judaism—In Paragraph 4, Nostra Aetate explicitly rejects antisemitism and the charge of Jewish collective guilt for Jesus’ death, recognizes the Jewishness of Jesus, Mary and the early Church, and recognizes Judaism’s ongoing covenant with God.
- Condemnation of Discrimination—It strongly opposes all forms of discrimination based on religion, race, or condition of life.
Photo: Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and Cardinal Augustine Bea, who was instrumental to “Nostra Aetate.” Image via American Jewish Committee.
Left: Pope St. John Paul II and Elio Toaff, chief rabbi of Rome, 1986; Center: Pope St. John Paul at the Western Wall, 2000;
Right: Bishop Denis Madden at interfaith service after the 2023 Turkey earthquake.
Presenting Judaism in Preaching & Catechesis
Notes on the Correct Way to Present the Jews and Judaism in Preaching and Catechesis in the Roman Catholic Church, (1985)
This document issued by the Vatican’s Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews provides guidelines to ensure that Catholic teaching and preaching accurately and respectfully reflect the Church’s relationship with Judaism. It emphasizes the shared spiritual heritage between Christians and Jews, encourages the elimination of antisemitic prejudices in catechesis and preaching.
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Dialogue and Proclamation
Dialogue and Proclamation: Reflections and Orientations on Interreligious Dialogue, (1991)
This document examines the link between interreligious dialogue and the Church’s mission to proclaim the Gospel. It affirms that dialogue and proclamation are distinct yet complementary, both serving to communicate salvific truth. Genuine dialogue with other religions does not weaken the Church’s duty to proclaim Christ but enhances it through respect and openness.
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We Remember
We Remember: A Reflection on the Shoah, (1998)
This document acknowledges the Holocaust’s tragedy and the Catholic duty of remembrance. It urges reflection on the Church’s historical failures regarding anti-Judaism and anti-Semitism and their role in Jewish suffering. The document distinguishes traditional anti-Judaism from Nazi racial anti-Semitism, condemning all persecution. While noting Christian resistance, it also recognizes Catholic indifference
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The Gifts and Calling of God
The Gifts and the Calling of God are Irrevocable (Rom 11:29), (2015)
This 50th-anniversary reflection on Nostra Aetate explores Catholic-Jewish relations, affirming God’s enduring covenant with the Jewish people. It highlights shared spiritual heritage, mutual respect, and the relationship between the Old and New Covenants, emphasizing that while the Church proclaims salvation through Christ, it acknowledges that God’s covenant with Israel remains intact.
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Document on Human Fraternity & Peace
A Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, (2019)
This document signed by Pope Francis and Grand Imam Ahmed el-Tayeb promotes interfaith dialogue, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence among people of different religions and cultures. The document condemns violence and extremism, emphasizing the importance of justice, equality, and human dignity. It calls for global efforts to foster fraternity, protect human rights, and support the poor and marginalized. The message is rooted in a shared commitment to peace, cooperation, and building a more harmonious world.
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Christians & Muslims: Witnesses of Hope
Christians and Muslims: Witnesses of Hope, (2021)
Message from the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue to Muslims for the Month of Ramadan and ‘Id al-Fitr.
This Ramadan message emphasizes Christians’ and Muslims’ shared spiritual practices of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving, highlighting their role in fostering closeness to God and strengthening fraternal bonds.
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U.S. Catholic Bishops’ Statements on Interreligious Dialogue
God’s Mercy Endures Forever
God’s Mercy Endures Forever: Guidelines on the Presentation of Jews and Judaism in Catholic Preaching, Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy, (1988)
This document emphasizes the importance of accurately and respectfully presenting Jews and Judaism in Catholic sermons and teachings, aligning with the Holy See’s directives from 1985.
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A Catholic Response to Dabru Emet
The Power of Words: A Catholic Response to Dabru Emet, (2000)
This document acknowledges the significance of Dabru Emet, a groundbreaking 2000 statement by a group of Jewish scholars convened by ICJS on Christians and Christianity.
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Recommitment to Relationship with Jewish Community
Recommitment to Relationship with Jewish Community, Bishops’ Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, (2022)
This statement marking the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate reaffirms the Catholic Church’s commitment to improving its relationship with the Jewish community, calling on all Christians to reject anti-Semitism and reaffirming the Church’s ongoing commitment to dialogue, understanding, and addressing historical tensions.
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A Common Word Between Us and You
A Common Word Between Us and You, (2007)
An open letter from a group of 138 leading Muslim scholars to Christian leaders calling for peace and understanding between religions and emphasizing common principles, especially love of God and love of neighbor. It urges both religions to work together, highlighting the shared responsibility to promote peace and harmony in a world facing significant challenges. The USCCB’s official response echoes the call for dialogue and cooperation based on common values of love and peace.
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