Acta Benedicti Pp. XVI 327

with joy. With Saint Augustine, let us say: ''we who speak and you who listen

acknowledge ourselves as fellow disciples of a single teacher''.12 With these

sentiments of communion, I gladly impart to you, your colleagues and stu-

dents, and to your families, my Apostolic Blessing.

IV

Conventus Interreligiosus apud Centrum Culturale « Pope John Paul II.*

My dear friends,

I am pleased to have this occasion to meet with you today. I thank

Bishop Sklba for his words of welcome, and I cordially greet all those in

attendance representing various religions in the United States of America.

Several of you kindly accepted the invitation to compose the reflections

contained in today's program. For your thoughtful words on how each of

your traditions bears witness to peace, I am particularly grateful. Thank

you all.

This country has a long history of cooperation between different religions

in many spheres of public life. Interreligious prayer services during the na-

tional feast of Thanksgiving, joint initiatives in charitable activities, a shared

voice on important public issues: these are some ways in which members of

different religions come together to enhance mutual understanding and pro-

mote the common good. I encourage all religious groups in America to per-

severe in their collaboration and thus enrich public life with the spiritual

values that motivate your action in the world.

The place where we are now gathered was founded specifically for pro-

moting this type of collaboration. Indeed, the Pope John Paul II Cultural

Center seeks to offer a Christian voice to the ''human search for meaning and

purpose in life'' in a world of ''varied religious, ethnic and cultural commu-

nities'' (Mission Statement). This institution reminds us of this nation's con-

viction that all people should be free to pursue happiness in a way consonant

with their nature as creatures endowed with reason and free will.

12 Sermons, 23:2.

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* Die 17 Aprilis 2008.