Meeting in Bari with Pope Francis and the Bishops of the Mediterranean

On 23 February Pope Francis visited Bari (Italy) for the meeting of reflection and spirituality of the Bishops of the Mediterranean, “Mediterranean: Frontier of Peace”, promoted by the Italian Bishops’ Conference. In his address to the bishops gathered in the Basilica of Saint Nicholas, Pope Francis recalled the meeting with the heads of the Christian Churches of the Middle East held in the same church on 7 July 2018 and, highlighting the innovative nature of the two meetings, described the city of Bari as the “capital of unity”. In this regard, Pope Francis praised the Diocese of Bari for having “always fostered ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, working tirelessly to create bonds of mutual esteem and fraternity”. Moreover, Pope Francis affirmed that for those who believe in the Gospel, dialogue has theological and not only anthropological value: “Listening to our brothers and sisters is not only an act of charity but also a way of listening to the Spirit of God who surely works in others and whose voice transcends the limits in which we are often tempted to constrain the truth”. The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity was represented by Monsignor Andrea Palmieri, Under–Secretary.