Pope Leo met on Monday morning with members of Jordan’s Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies and of the Holy See’s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue.
The members of the Royal Institute, which was founded under the patronage of Jordan’s Prince Hasan bin Talal, were in Rome for a colloquium on “Human Compassion and Empathy in Modern Times”.
Compassion in Christianity and Islam
In his address, the Pope suggested that compassion and empathy are “essential attitudes” of both Christianity and Islam.
In the Muslim tradition, Pope Leo said, compassion (ra’fa) is a gift bestowed by God in the hearts of believers, while the inclusion of al-Ra’uf (‘The ever-compassionate) among the ninety-nine divine names reminds us that “compassion always has its origin in God himself.”
In the Christian tradition, on the other hand, the Pope said, this divine compassion “becomes visible and tangible” in the person of Jesus. By taking on human flesh, God “goes beyond seeing and hearing” human suffering, and instead experiences it Himself, becoming “the living embodiment of compassion”
Love for the poor
Compassion and empathy, Pope Leo said, are therefore “not something additional or optional” for Christians and Muslims. Indeed, they have “social implications” for believers in both religions.
From a Christian point of view, the Pope said, “love for the poor” – and indeed sharing in their suffering – are of essential importance. In this regard, he expressed his appreciation for the Kingdom of Jordan’s “generous efforts” to welcome refugees.
Technology and indifference
In the final portion of his speech, Pope Leo reflected on the impact of technology on compassion and empathy today.
While it is true that we are “more connected than ever before”, the Pope said, the “constant flow of images and videos of the hardships of others can dull our hearts rather than stir them”.
Citing an early homily of Pope Francis’, Leo warned that we “have become used to the suffering of others”, believing that “it does not affect me, it does not interest me, it is none of my business”.
In this context, Pope Leo concluded, Christians and Muslims are called to draw on the “richness” of their respective traditions in order to engage in a “common mission”: “to revive humanity where it has grown cold, to give voice to those who suffer and to transform indifference into solidarity”.
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