Archbishop Moth awards Cardinal Fitzgerald and Archbishop McDonald the St Mary's Medal

Cardinal Fitzgerald and Archbishop McDonald (front) with Fr Michael Barnes SJ, Anthony McClaran, Archbishop Richard Moth, and James Holland. Photo: St Mary's University

Source: CBCEW

At an event celebrating the contribution of the Catholic Church to the field of interreligious dialogue, Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald M Afr OBE and Archbishop Kevin McDonald were awarded the St Mary's Medal, for their outstanding contribution to this area of the Church's work.

Held in partnership with St Mary's University, Twickenham, 'Examining Nostra Aetate' explored the Second Vatican Council's groundbreaking document on interreligious dialogue.

Nostra Aetate, published a little over 60 years ago, carved out an authentically Catholic approach to interreligious dialogue, one that is grounded in humanity's relationship to God and each other.

Introducing the award ceremony, Anthony McClaran, Vice Chancellor of St Mary's University, said that St Mary's is "a Catholic university rooted in the values that Cardinal Fitzgerald and Archbishop McDonald have expounded this evening".

Continuing, "as such, we are delighted to honour Cardinal Fitzgerald's and Archbishop McDonald's life-long achievements in this most important and pressing field with the highest esteem this University can provide - the St Mary's Medal".

Addressing Cardinal Fitzgerald, the Vice Chancellor thanked him for the support he had given to St Mary's interreligious initiatives over many years. To Archbishop McDonald, thanking him for his involvement in the St Mary's Toledo Dialogues initiative, the Vice Chancellor highlighted the importance and impact of his work, "in a time of world crisis, interreligious dialogue is a possible and necessary tool in building our edifying learning environment and cohesive campus community".

Archbishop Richard Moth, the Archbishop of Westminster and Chair of Governors at St Mary's, presented the medals to the speakers.

Earlier in the evening, Archbishop McDonald spoke about the context in which Nostra Aetate was developed, addressing a theme central to the Second Vatican Council, that the "teaching on other religions is related to, and grows out of, an understanding of the Church itself".

Cardinal Fitzgerald then gave the Keynote speech on the theology of Nostra Aetate, highlighting the resolve that the Church's approach to other religions "should not use the language of condemnation, but the language of mercy".

The event drew to a close Westminster Interfaith's "A Journey into Hope" series, marking 60 years since the declaration of Nostra Aetate. For this anniversary, Fr Michael Barnes SJ has produced a new translation of Nostra Aetate, which can be viewed here.

As Pope Leo announced on the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi, 2026 is the Year of St Francis. It is therefore fitting that 2026 also marks the 40th anniversary of Pope St John Paul II's interreligious gathering for the World Day of Prayer for Peace in St Francis' home, Assisi.

As war continues to rage across the world, this year of St Francis, and the invitation laid out in Nostra Aetate, presents an opportunity to use the gift of interreligious dialogue to work for and seek out peace in our world.