Sixty years after Nostra Aetate, we share a clip from the Link-Up of June 13th, 2020. It’s taken from an interview with Vinu Aram, Director of the Shanti Ashram International Centre, an international Gandhian development organization that works in the poorest and most disadvantaged areas of Tamil Nadu in India. Founded in 1986 by her parents, Dr. M. Aram and Mrs. Minoti Aram, Vino carries out important work alongside people and communities in the fight against poverty and inequality, with a particular focus on children. She has a long-standing friendship with the Focolare Movement and a shared journey in interreligious dialogue and peacebuilding.
“May religions not be used as weapons or walls, but rather lived as bridges and prophecy: making the dream of the common good credible, accompanying life, sustaining hope and being the yeast of unity in a fragmented world.”
These are the closing words of Pope Leo XIV in the video message for the prayer intention of October 2025, dedicated specifically to “collaboration between different religious traditions”. In the month that marks the 60th anniversary of the conciliar document, Nostra Aetate (In Our Time), on the relationship between the Church and non-Christian religions, the Pontiff, in urging us to recognize ourselves “as brothers and sisters, called to live, pray, work and dream together”, perfectly captures the central points of this declaration, a child of Vatican II, revealing its great importance and continuing relevance.
The spirit of conciliar renewal has opened unknown paths, offered new perspectives on many things and in these six decades Nostra Aetate has certainly guided and inspired steps along the path of dialogue, fostering first mutual understanding and then acceptance between the various religions.
For this reason, the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue has issued an open invitation to a commemorative Celebration to reflect on the legacy of “Nostra Aetate” on 28th October, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (Italian time) in the Paul VI Hall (Vatican City), in the presence of the Holy Father. The event can be followed through Vatican Media channels.
The document states that, the Church “in her task of promoting unity and love among men, indeed among nations, she considers above all in this declaration what men have in common and what draws them to fellowship. One is the community of all peoples”.
Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolare Movement, very much welcomed this revelation, to live as “one human family”. The Movement, founded on a deep spirituality centred on unity among all people, is engaged in various forms of dialogue, including interreligious dialogue. For over five decades, through its Centre for Interreligious Dialogue and local centres around the world, it has established strong and fraternal relationships with thousands of believers and with numerous institutions, associations, movements and organizations of different religions. It does so in the conviction that friendship between people of different faiths is a vital force for building universal brotherhood.
We share here a short video that presents Chiara Lubich’s intuition and the path taken to develop dialogue.
Maria Grazia Berretta Photo: Session Concilio Vaticano II
