New Delhi: In a bid to foster unity and address global challenges, Pope Francis has called for an inclusive dialogue between Christians, socialists, Marxists, and communists. Speaking at a reception in the Vatican, the Pontiff encouraged the members of the Marxist-Christian dialogue group, Dialop, to join forces in tackling issues such as poverty, corruption and the abuse of power.Common mission for a fraternal futurePope Francis highlighted the shared responsibility of Christians, socialists, Marxists, and communists in building a better, fraternal future for a world marked by wars and polarisation. Emphasising the need to transcend rigid and divisive approaches, he urged for open-hearted discussions that embrace inclusivity across political, social, and religious spectrums.Overcoming divisions, dictatesIn his address, the Pope urged against allowing finance and the market to dictate the law. He emphasised the importance of dreaming of a world that upholds ideals such as freedom, equality, dignity, and fraternity—a world reflecting Gods dream for humanity. Pope Francis called for the courage to step outside conventional boundaries and an openness to explore new paths through dialogue.Focus on the marginalisedExpressing concern for the marginalised, including the poor, unemployed, homeless, migrants, and the exploited, Pope Francis stressed that their well-being should be the measure of civilisation. He drew attention to historical instances where dictatorships, like National Socialism, discarded and persecuted these vulnerable groups.Purifying intentions for solidarity, justiceTo achieve solidarity and justice, the Pope called for purifying systems of inequality in their intentions. He advocated for radical changes in the distribution of challenges and resources among individuals and nations. Pope Francis underscored the importance of unleashing creativity in service of a more humane society.Dialops dedication to dialogueThe Dialop dialogue platform, dedicated to fostering dialogue between Christians and socialists or Marxists, presented its ten years of activities to the Pope during the audience. This initiative, born out of a meeting between Pope Francis and the future Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in 2014, works on social ethics and ecology, blending Marxist ideas with Catholic social teaching.
