By Canon Mark Madden

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Sixty years ago, the Second Vatican Council sowed a seed of hope in the Church and the world. With the promulgation of Nostra Aetate (In Our Time), the Catholic Church invited all people of faith to walk together in friendship, respect, and dialogue.

 

This year, the Vatican marked the 60th anniversary with a joyful and moving celebration attended by religious leaders from every corner of the globe — a living testimony to the enduring power of that small but revolutionary document. The gathering was rich in prayer, music, and dance, various traditions offering something to the shared celebration. Reflections and testimonies focused on the continuing importance of interreligious dialogue in our fractured world and on the truth that we are all members of one human family, created by God and called to live together in peace.

 

The celebration was centred on three interwoven themes: “Walking Together”, “In Hope”, and “One Family”. “Walking Together” speaks of journeying side by side, listening and learning from one another as companions rather than competitors. “In Hope” expresses the belief that mutual understanding and dialogue can overcome division and renew trust among peoples. “One Family” reminds us that every person, whatever their faith or background, bears the image of God and is part of God’s plan for unity and love.

 

As I sat among Cardinals, Buddhist Monks, Rabbis, Muslim Imams, and followers of religions I had never even heard of before, I was struck by the beauty of our diversity — and by the quiet harmony that comes when people of faith meet not as strangers, but as brothers and sisters. It was a living image of Nostra Aetate in action.

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In his address, Pope Leo reflected that what began as a “‘fragile shoot’ has grown into a ‘mighty tree,’ whose branches now bear the rich fruits of understanding, cooperation, and peace — touching communities across the world.”

 

At its heart, Nostra Aetate proclaims that “humanity is drawing closer together,” and that it is the Church’s mission “to promote unity and love among men and women, and among nations.” It reminds us that every person is created in the image of God, with equal dignity, and must never be treated with hatred or contempt. The Church “rejects nothing that is true and holy” in other religions, recognising that each “reflects a ray of that truth which enlightens all people.”

 

Rooted in the renewed relationship between the Catholic Church and the Jewish people, Nostra Aetate also took a stand against antisemitism and all forms of discrimination. It called believers to a new way of being — a way beautifully expressed by Pope Leo: “Dialogue is not a tactic or a tool, but a way of life — a journey of the heart that transforms everyone involved.”

 

As we celebrate this anniversary in the Jubilee Year of Hope, Nostra Aetate challenges us to make its vision real: to listen with openness, to resist prejudice, and to build friendships that honour both faith and difference. To “walk together in hope” is to recognise God’s image shining in every face we meet, and to act accordingly. For when we do, dialogue becomes a path to communion, and hope becomes a gift we carry into the world.