Vatican City – October 5, 2025 — In his October 2025 prayer intention, released globally through The Pope Video on September 30, Pope Leo XIV issued a universal appeal for “collaboration between different religious traditions,” inviting not only Catholics but all people of faith to work together to “defend and promote peace, justice and human fraternity.”
The message—entrusted to the entire Catholic Church through the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network—opens with the Pope’s voice offering a heartfelt prayer: “Lord Jesus, you who in diversity are one and look lovingly at every person, help us to recognize ourselves as brothers and sisters, called to live, pray, work and dream together.”
While rooted in Christian language, the Holy Father’s words carry a deliberately inclusive resonance. He acknowledges the paradox of our time: “We live in a world full of beauty, but also wounded by deep divisions.” With sorrow, he notes that “sometimes religions, instead of uniting us, become a cause of confrontation.” In response, he implores: “Give us your spirit to purify our hearts, so that we may recognize what unites us, and from there, learn again how to listen and collaborate without destroying.”
Pope Leo XIV’s intention is part of a long-standing Vatican initiative. Since 2016, The Pope Video—produced by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network (a Pontifical Society) in collaboration with Coronation Media and distributed with the support of La Machi and Vatican Media—has reached over 247 million views across the Vatican’s social networks, appearing in more than 23 languages and gaining press coverage in 114 countries. Each monthly video aims to mobilize Catholics and people of goodwill through prayer and concrete action in response to humanity’s most pressing challenges.
In this month’s message, the Pope points to “the concrete examples of peace, justice and fraternity in religions” as proof that “it is possible to live and work together, beyond our differences.” His vision is clear: “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.”
Though he does not name specific faiths, the ethical and spiritual foundations he invokes find strong echoes across the world’s diverse religious landscape. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) teaches that “all truth is part of the gospel of Jesus Christ” and emphasizes service, moral agency, and the divine potential of every human being—principles aligned with the Pope’s call to collaborative dignity. Sikhism’s central tenet of sarbat da bhala—“welfare of all”—embodies a universal concern for justice and compassion that transcends boundaries. Even among communities with distinctive theological identities, such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, there is a consistent commitment to peace, neutrality in conflict, and humanitarian relief—values that contribute meaningfully to the common good.
In Dharmic traditions, the resonance is equally profound. Hinduism’s ancient teaching of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—“the world is one family”—and its emphasis on dharma (righteous duty) provide a natural framework for interfaith cooperation. Buddhism, with its core practices of non-harming (ahimsa) and loving-kindness (metta), encourages engagement with all beings to alleviate suffering—a vision closely aligned with the Pope’s plea for religions to “accompany life and sustain hope.” Jainism’s radical reverence for all life further reinforces this shared ethical ground.
Even newer spiritual paths find common cause in this vision. Scientology, for instance, articulates a goal of “a civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war,” emphasizing individual worth and social betterment, and their Way to Happiness “respect the beliefs of others”—principles that, while expressed differently, contribute to the collaborative spirit the Pope envisions. Though their doctrines, rituals, and histories vary widely, these traditions all contain seeds of fraternity, justice, and peace.
The Pope’s message culminated in a powerful image: “May religions not be used as weapons or walls, but rather lived as bridges and prophecy, making the dream of the common good credible… and being the yeast of unity in a fragmented world.” This metaphor—religion as yeast—suggests quiet, transformative influence rather than domination; cooperation rather than conversion.
The Vatican has framed this message as part of Pope Leo XIV’s broader effort to foster a “culture of encounter,” where differences are not erased but honored within a shared commitment to human flourishing. Religious leaders and interfaith advocates worldwide have responded with appreciation for the Pope’s tone of humility and practical solidarity. Many see in his words not a theological statement but a moral summons—to build real-world partnerships on climate action, refugee support, poverty alleviation, and peacebuilding, without requiring doctrinal agreement.
In a time marked by polarization, rising xenophobia, and the instrumentalization of faith for political ends, the Pope’s prayer offers a quiet but revolutionary challenge: that religion, in all its forms, must become a force for healing—not division.
As he concluded in his prayer: “Amen.”
The full video, titled “For collaboration between different religious traditions,” is available globally through The Pope Video initiative, which continues to serve as a bridge between the Holy See and people of conscience around the world.
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