Pope Leo XIV said Thursday that the Church is called to reach all peoples not by imposing itself but by bearing witness to the truth in charity.
In an April 30 audience with members of the Diocesan Office for the Universal Church and Dialogue of the Archdiocese of Cologne, the pope reflected on the universality of the Church and the importance of dialogue.
The pope recalled that, “in light of Christ’s resurrection, the Church recognizes herself as being sent to all peoples — not by imposing herself but by bearing witness to the truth in charity.”
“Dialogue, in turn, strengthens communion, opens paths of understanding, and serves the cause of peace,” he said, adding that “Christ draws all things to himself and makes the Church a sign of unity and hope for the world.”
Leo addressed the delegation on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the founding of Weltkirche & Dialog, today known as the Diocesan Office for the Universal Church and Dialogue.
Turning to the German archdiocese, the pope highlighted its long-standing openness to encounter, mutual exchange, and dialogue among peoples and cultures. In particular, he recalled that in 1954, under Cardinal Josef Frings and Vicar General Father Josef Teusch, the Archdiocese of Cologne established a partnership with the Archdiocese of Tokyo — “the first of its kind in Germany.”
The pope said the archdiocese’s commitment to a truly universal Church, “called to solidarity beyond the confines of Europe and sustained through a culture of dialogue,” remains at the heart of the office’s identity.
Leo also praised the archdiocese’s charitable work in regions affected by famine, flooding, war, and other crises as well as its relationships of support with churches in more than 100 countries, with particular attention to the Middle East and the Eastern Churches.
The pope also noted the scholarships for priestly formation and assistance to elderly priests offered by the Archdiocese of Cologne.
“I might add here that when I was bishop in Perù, in Chiclayo, the Archdiocese of Cologne was also very supportive of a number of different initiatives, including helping purchase oxygen-producing machines, which saved the lives of many people,” he said. “And the people today are still grateful for that support.”
The pope expressed gratitude for the group’s initiatives, saying that through their service “the universal dimension of the Church is made visible and concrete, fostering solidarity, strengthening bonds of unity, and bearing witness to the Gospel of peace in a world so often marked by division and distress.”
Such witness, Leo said, is “all the more necessary today,” especially as many Christians have been forced to leave their homelands because of war, violence, and poverty.
“I therefore encourage you to persevere in this mission of charity, so that they may still experience the closeness of the universal Church,” he said.
The pope asked the delegation in a particular way to continue supporting the presence of Christians in the Middle East “in order to ensure that these venerable traditions of the Eastern Churches are preserved, safeguarded, and more widely known.”
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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