Interfaith dialogue : Yves Legault received by Pope Francis

Accompanied by the Consul of the Republic of Benin in Naples, Giuseppe Gambardella and his Vice-President, Ines Mikpe, the Grand Chancellor and Secretary General of the Supreme Order of Ancestors (PART), Yves Legault was received in audience this Thursday 9 September 2021 by His Holiness Pope Francis at the Palace of the Holy Office. A meeting that is part of OSA's initiative to promote the development of an open and transparent interreligious dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the various endogenous religions of Benin, including the voodoo cult..

After fruitful exchanges with the Holy Father, the Grand Chancellor and Secretary General of OSA and his delegation continued discussions with the Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue Msgr.. Indunil J. Kodithumwakku and the Discater responsible for Interreligious Dialogue and Minister of the Roman Curia, Cardinal Bishop Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot.

 The good news is that after this interview, it was agreed that OSA would collaborate with the Roman Curia and the mechanisms of the Catholic Church in Benin to develop and distribute didactic and edutainment materials to support the establishment of a rapprochement and a frank and open dialogue. transparency between Ministers of worship of endogenous confession and the Roman Catholic Church.

“The time has come to correct history, to eliminate mistrust and animosities and allow women and men with a multi-confessional spirituality to live their faith without denying their origin,” declared the Grand Chancellor and Secretary General of OSA at the end of his meeting with the Apostolic Council for Dialogue Interreligious.

Note that the audience with the Holy Father was held prior to OSA's participation in the G20 Interfaith Forum, an event that is part of the calendar of the Italian Presidency of the G20 Heads of State meeting where the 11th Daagbo Hounon, His Eminence Daagbo Hounon Tomadjlehoukpon II Houwamenou is expected there to deliver a speech on the endogenous and vernacular religions of Benin, bulwark against religious and political tensions.

It should also be noted that the session with Pope Francis was organized with the support and cooperation of the Episcopal Conference of Benin., the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See in Benin and the intervention of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

D. TOLOMISSI