Pope Leo XIV meets with representatives of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and encourages them to be beacons of hope, peace, and unity in a world marked by violence and division.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov
“In a time that is often characterized by violence and pointed rhetoric, the members of your diverse university community can continue to be artisans of true peace, a peace that is unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering, working for harmony among people.”
Pope Leo XIV expressed this on Thursday morning when meeting with the Board of Governors of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in the Vatican.
READ POPE LEO XIV’S FULL ADDRESS
The Holy Father began by welcoming them, expressing his hope that their time here will allow them to deepen their knowledge both of Vatican City and Rome, a place that is not only central to the origins and growth of the Christian faith, but also one that has fostered the meetings of cultures and peoples for millennia.
Likewise, he recalled that universities have been longtime places of encounter, bringing together students and faculty to grow in wisdom.
Not always easy
“While not always easy,” he admitted, “universities must constantly work to ensure that opportunities for meaningful encounters remain available.”
Greetings following the audience (@VATICAN MEDIA)
The Pope said this constitutes an essential part of the life of any institution of higher learning, because our relationships with others, our languages and our cultures “are vitally important for who we are as human beings.”
As natural places for encounter, Pope Leo said, universities have traditionally been “privileged places for dialogue,” where the pursuit of knowledge is intrinsically linked with exchanging ideas within the academic community.
“In an atmosphere where respectful dialogue is possible,” he said, “everyone can grow in knowledge through learning from the points of view and living testimonies of others, even those with whom they might disagree.”
Breaking down barriers
“In these settings, with patient perseverance,” Pope Leo underscored, “it is possible to gradually work towards breaking down any barriers of misunderstanding and distrust that may arise.”
The Pope said that God asks us to be His instruments to bring peace to the world, but we must start with ourselves.
“Rather than believing peace to be impossible and beyond our reach,” Pope Leo said, “we must seek to promote it in our communities and to welcome and recognize it in our own lives.”
Finally, Pope Leo expressed his hope that through forming artisans of peace, the university community “may continue to be a beacon of hope and unity in a world that is increasingly divided.”
