A visit not just for Catholics
Andrea Merow is a rabbi at Beth Sholom Congregation, Elkins Park, and founder of the Beth Sholom Mitzvah food pantry
Andrea Merow
is a rabbi at Beth Sholom Congregation, Elkins Park, and founder of the Beth Sholom Mitzvah food pantry
Robin Hynicka
is pastor of Arch Street United Methodist Church
Muhammad Abdul-Aleem
is a Quranic scholar and imam emeritus of the Masjidullah Center for Human Excellence in Philadelphia
This week's papal visit is certainly a momentous occasion for the region's million and a half Catholics. But Pope Francis comes as far more than global head of the Roman Catholic Church.
Through the pope's powerful and persistent call for peace, justice, and human dignity in an era of intense global conflict and danger, he has shown himself a spiritual leader for all faiths. His spirit of hope and joy, marked by deep humility and a genuine solidarity with suffering and oppressed people, has captivated even people who ascribe to no faith.
Pope Francis' belief in societal transformation, and his own example, are the power that has drawn together a local community of leaders from the different traditions of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. We are painfully aware of our historical moment, when all our traditions have been wielded illegitimately to foster combativeness and violence, contributing to social strife and creating a stream of refugees.
We, like so many others around the world, are stirred by this pontiff's passionate outspokenness for the world's poor and most marginalized people. We hear him speaking to all of our traditions, challenging us not to be content with a safe, personalized spirituality, but one that engages in the struggles of our world.
We are also deeply moved by his powerful statements and gestures that bring the world's religious communities together. In 2014, he was the first pope to invite Jewish and Islamic leaders to accompany him to Jerusalem. (The term pontiff, he reminds us, means builder of bridges.) "My wish," he said, "is that the dialogue between us should help to build bridges connecting all people, in such a way that everyone can see in the other not an enemy, not a rival, but a brother or sister to be welcomed and embraced."
Francis' visit has created a unique opportunity for pastors, rabbis, imams, and laity from all our traditions to come together, across the theological and cultural divides that have for too long kept us apart. This pope's call for compassion, community, and social justice - which we expect him to articulate during his two days here - are a taproot uniting all our religious traditions.
As an expression of that special bridge among us, we are participating in the Mercy and Justice campaign (mercyandjustice.org), which seeks to honor the pope with concrete actions on behalf of our brothers and sisters struggling with poverty. This interfaith initiative will channel about $1.5 million to more than 50 regional organizations working on hunger and homelessness.
As the Jewish community worldwide gathers to celebrate a new year, we share the beautiful aspiration of the ancient psalmist: "I am young, and I have been old, but I have never seen a righteous person forsaken or begging for bread." Jews recognize that it is our sacred responsibility to make sure that none of God's children beg for bread, and to share the bounty of the Earth in an equitable and just way.
Likewise, the global Muslim community prepares to celebrate Eid al-Adha (the "festival of sacrifice," which commemorates the Prophet Abraham's offer to sacrifice his son), with millions of pilgrims completing their pilgrimage to Mecca. This Islamic community, which takes to heart the Quran's call to justice - "O, you who believe, be upright for God and be bearers of witness with justice" - shares the pope's vision of a community that cares for all people.
Pope Francis has likewise insisted that the Christian community - in all its expressions - remember the core challenge of the Gospel, imitating the way of Jesus and his special embrace of the poor, the outcast, the oppressed, the prisoner.
Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J. Chaput has spoken of the papal visit as a transformational moment, not only for the Catholic Church but for the city and the region. Part of that transformation, we believe, is the possibility of deepening the bridges among our faith communities. In doing so, we enhance our capacity to act together for mercy and justice. That will be cause to give thanks to the God we share. It will also be good news for the city we all inhabit and love.