Chief Rabbi Sacks gives first Pope Benedict XVI Lecture

Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sachs

Source: CCN

The inaugural Pope Benedict XVI Lecture was given by Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks at St Mary's University College, Twickenham, on 15 September commemorating the visit to the University College by the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, last September.

The lecture focused on the topic of interreligous dialogue and was attended by more than 100 guests. The visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the United Kingdom in 2010 saw representatives from nine major religions in England and Wales gather to celebrate the contribution of people of faith to the common good. At the commemorative lecture the guests who were present for Pope Benedict XVI's address during his September visit came together once again to celebrate and remember the occasion, and to further the relationships and conversations that were established at this event. The guest list included people of faith who are eminent in their fields, and have made a contribution to society, motivated by their faith, as well as senior representatives of the religions and Catholics working in the interreligious field.

Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks said: "I am honoured and blessed to have been asked to give the inaugural Pope Benedict XVI lecture at St Mary's University College. It is most fitting that one of the lasting legacies of the Papal visit is a lecture on the importance of interfaith relations and dialogue."

"Before last year's Papal Visit, commentators questioned whether such visits merited much attention. Yet the response shown by Catholics in this country, and by other people of faith, demonstrated the importance that faith plays in our society. The Papal visit underlined that faith in all its manifestations is an integral part of 21st Century Britain and that Britain is stronger because of it."

Archbishop Vincent Nichols, who hosted the event, spoke of Benedict XVI's invitation to British people to see faith as a "gift to be rediscovered", and spoke of the reconciling role of religious people in the recent riots.

Listen to Lord Sacks' address, and the Archbishop of Westminster's introduction: www.catholicchurch.org.uk/pope-benedict-lecture-1