Source: Beliefnet

Wire Service: AP

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/165/story_16548_1.html

On April 20, 2005 the Associated Press reported, "Charting a papacy in the tradition of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI pledged Wednesday to work for unity among Christians and to seek 'an open and sincere dialogue' with other faiths. In his first Mass as pontiff, Benedict invoked the words of John Paul II - 'Be not afraid' - a message designed...

Source: Navya Shastra

http://www.shastras.org/PressRelease11.html

On April 19, 2005 a Navya Shastra press release reported, "Navya Shastra, a global Hindu organization of scholars, practitioners and priests with members in over ten countries, has congratulated the Catholic Church for selecting Joseph Ratzinger--now Benedict XVI--as its new Pope. However, the organization expressed concern over Ratzinger's stance towards Hinduism. 'Ratzinger has described Hindu meditative...

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

http://www.smh.com.au/news/Opinion/Key-issue-for-next-pope-is-a-meeting-of-the-faiths/2005/04/17/1113676643828.html?oneclick=true

On April 18, 2005 The Sydney Morning Herald ran an opinion piece by Neil Ormerod, professor of theology at the Australian Catholic University, about the importance of the new pope addressing religious pluralism. Ormerod writes, "The...

Source: The Courier-Journal

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050418/NEWS01/504180377/1008

On April 18, 2005 The Courier-Journal reported, "Jasmine Sabet, a 15-year-old sophomore at Sacred Heart Academy, was one of 15 young people there for the second annual National Days of Interfaith Youth Service. The national event, sponsored by Interfaith Youth Core, encourages youth of different faiths to come together...

Source: MSNBC/Newsweek

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7446931/site/newsweek/page/4/

On April 18, 2005 Newsweek reported, "John Paul II made interfaith dialogue a priority, but his successor needs to expand and intensify those exchanges, says Diana Eck, professor of comparative religion at Harvard. 'He went much further with the Jewish people than with Muslims,' she says. 'And much further with Abrahamic dialogue than either Buddhists or Hindus.' Relations between the...

Source: In-Forum News

Source: Global Sikh Daily News

Source: India Post News Service

http://www.indiapost.com/members/story.php?story_id=4707

On April 13, 2005 the India Post News Service reported, "Bibi Inderjit Kaur Khalsa, Bhai Sahiba of the Sikh Dharma, addressed a gathering of 500 in an Interfaith Memorial Service for Pope John Paul II at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angeles in Los Angeles, California. She shared some personal experiences with her husband Siri Singh Sahib Bhai Sahib Khalsa Yogiji and their...

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/12/international/worldspecial2/12islam.html

On April 11, 2005 The New York Times reported, "One is from Nigeria, a man who grew up among Muslims and says there is no clash of cultures. Another is from Germany, who believes that it may be useful to talk to Muslims but that it is better to revitalize Christianity. Others speak of the need for Muslims in Europe to integrate better or even to...

Source: Houston Chronicle

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/world/3127863

On April 11, 2005 the Houston Chronicle reported, "The symbols of cooperation left to the world by Pope John Paul II transformed interfaith relations. He was the Polish pope who came of age under Nazi occupation and prayed at one of Judaism's most holy sites, Jerusalem's Western Wall. The leader of more than 1 billion Catholics, he shed his shoes to enter a mosque and urged repentance...

Source: The Tampa Tribune

http://tampatrib.com/opinion/MGBRB1IRB7E.html

On April 10, 2005 The Tampa Tribune ran a letter to the editor from K. Wipulasara, abbot of Florida Buddhist Vihara, on Pope John Paul II's legacy of interfaith work. Wipulasara wrote, "At a time when the need for tolerance of discrete religious beliefs and pluralistic views is so evident, the world has been blessed with spiritual guidance from individuals of the caliber of Pope John Paul II. History has...

Source: Haaretz

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/562921.html

On April 10, 2005 Haaretz reported, "With the passing of Pope John Paul II, Jewish and Catholic leaders involved in interfaith efforts are voicing concerns that future pontiffs might fail to carry on his groundbreaking efforts to deepen relations with the Jewish people...In some circles, the concern is that as the church confronts mounting international problems - including a critical shortage of priests and...

Source: Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=OXIN0NZQOJJWQCRBAEKSFEY?type=topNews...

Source: Macleans.ca

http://www.macleans.ca/topstories/news/shownews.jsp?content=n041059A

On April 10, 2005 Macleans.ca reported, "Hundreds of same-sex supporters hooted, sang and clapped their hands to a choir singing Chapel of Love at a boisterous rally Sunday that saw Christian, Jewish, Muslim and other religious leaders calling for the right to perform gay and lesbian marriages.

The rare union of various faiths was one of five gatherings...

Source: The Associated Press

http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3172872

On April 9, 2005 The Associated Press reported, "an interfaith group that originally asked to be included in a National Day of Prayer ceremony at Troy City Hall says it's backing out. The group says the reason is that the National Day of Prayer Task Force is an exclusively Christian organization. The interfaith group also includes Hindus, Muslims, Jews and members of other religions. An...