Pope Francis met with a delegation from the Muslim Bektashi Order of Dervishes from Albania on Thursday, emphasizing the vital importance of interreligious dialogue in fostering peaceful coexistence in a divided world.

Addressing the delegation, led by His Grace Haxhi Baba Edmond Brahimaj, Pope Francis reiterated that religious leaders have a responsibility to promote a culture of encounter, mutual understanding, and cooperation. “Whenever religious leaders gather in a spirit of mutual respect and commit themselves to fostering a culture of encounter through dialogue, mutual understanding, and cooperation, our hope for a better and more just world is renewed and confirmed,” the Pope stated.

The Bektashi Order, a Sufi Muslim tradition with roots in 13th-century Anatolia, is known for its focus on love, tolerance, and spiritual enlightenment. The order maintains friendly relations with the Catholic Church, facilitated by the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue.

Pope Francis highlighted the longstanding relationship between the Catholic Church and the Bektashi community, describing it as a “blessing” that contributes to fraternity and peaceful coexistence. He pointed to the order’s involvement in key interreligious events, including the 1993 Prayer for Peace in the Balkans during the Yugoslav Wars and the 2011 World Day of Prayer for Peace in Assisi.

These encounters, the Pope said, showcase the potential for religious communities to act as “bridges of reconciliation and mutual enrichment” not only within Albania but also in fostering dialogue between the East and the West.

Pope Francis underscored the urgent need for interreligious dialogue in today’s world, which is increasingly plagued by conflict and division. He emphasized that religious convictions can inspire people to embrace values such as friendship, collaboration, and the common good, which are intrinsic to humanity.

“Despite the present challenges, interreligious dialogue has a unique role in building a future of reconciliation, justice, and peace that the peoples of the world, and especially young people, so ardently desire,” the Pope affirmed.

The meeting concluded with a shared hope for the strengthening of relations between the Bektashi Order and the Catholic Church, fostering a more fraternal and peaceful world.