Pope Francis: Marriages of different religions should not be an opportunity to convert the spouse

Written by Almudena Martinez Bordiú.

Pope Francis received this Wednesday in audience a group of Muslims from Bologna (Italy), before whom he stated that "marriages between people of different religions should not be an opportunity to convert the spouse to one's own religion." 

In his speech, the Holy Father said that “Jesus taught us to welcome one another as brothers.” 

He explained that this premise “applies first and foremost to us, Christians, Jews and Muslims, who worship the One God and who refer, albeit in different ways, to Abraham as a father in faith.”

For the Pontiff, in today's world, "our testimony of fraternity is indispensable and very valuable." We, Pope Francis continued, “who have received the gift of this religious belonging, are called to be open and welcoming to those who do not share it, because they are, like all of us, members of the one human family.”

In particular, he highlighted that “sincere and respectful dialogue between Christians and Muslims is a duty for those of us who wish to obey the will of God.”

“In effect, the will of a Father is that his children love each other, help each other and that, if any difficulty or misunderstanding arises between them, they reach an agreement with humility and patience,” he expressed. For this dialogue to be possible, he said, it is necessary to have “effective recognition of the dignity and rights of every person,” especially “freedom of conscience and religion, which means that every human being must be completely free in his or her religious choices.” Furthermore, he assured that every believer should feel free to propose, “never impose,” their own religion on other people, believers or not.

"This excludes all forms of proselytism, understood as exerting pressure or threats; one must reject all types of economic or work-related favours; one must not take advantage of people's ignorance," he later warned. 

“The world, especially at this historical moment, needs coherent believers strongly committed to building and maintaining social and world peace,” Pope Francis finally said.