Pope appoints Archbishop to Vatican’s interreligious body

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon as a Member of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue. The announcement was made today, Thursday, July 3.

A media release from the Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC) stated that it “is pleased to share the joyful news that His Holiness Pope Leo has appointed His Grace the Most Reverend Charles Jason Gordon, Archbishop of Port of Spain, as a Member of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue. This information has been shared via an announcement made by the Vatican.”

Archbishop Gordon is the President of the AEC.

The appointment, the release continued, reflects Pope Leo’s confidence in the AEC and in particular Archbishop Gordon’s “longstanding commitment to fostering dialogue, understanding, and collaboration among people of different faith traditions.”

The release noted that Archbishop Gordon joins a distinguished group of cardinals, archbishops, bishops, and vicars from around the world in this important ministry of promoting peace and mutual respect among religions.

Other members appointed by the Holy Father include:

• Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa OFM, Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins (Israel)
• Cardinal Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi SVD, Archbishop of Tokyo (Japan)
• Cardinal Dominique Joseph Mathieu OFM Conv, Archbishop of

Teheran-Ispahan of the Latins (Iran)

• Cardinal Frank Leo, Archbishop of Toronto (Canada)
• Archbishop Bernard Longley, Birmingham (United Kingdom)
• Archbishop Mitchell Thomas Rozanski, Saint Louis (United States of America)
• Archbishop Yagop Mourad, Homs of the Syrians (Syria)
• Archbishop Vira Arpondratana, Bangkok (Thailand)
• Bishop Joseph Chau Ngoc Tri, Lang Són and Cao Bang (Vietnam)
• Bishop Sithembele Sipuka, Umtata (South Africa)
• Bishop Teodoro Mendes Tavares CSSp, Ponta de Pedras (Brazil)
• Bishop José Luis Mumbiela Sierra, Most Holy Trinity in Almaty (Kazakhstan)
• Bishop Ollo Modeste Kambou, Gaoua (Burkina Faso)
• Bishop Brendan Leahy, Limerick (Ireland)
• Bishop Paolo Martinelli OFM Cap, Vicar Apostolic of Southern Arabia (United Arab Emirates)
• Bishop Derio Olivero, Pinerolo (Italy)
• Bishop Christophorus Tri Harsono, Purwokerto (Indonesia)
• Bishop Bertram Johannes Meier, Augsburg (Germany)
• Bishop Wilybard Lagho, Malindi (Kenya)
• Bishop Yousaf Sohan, Multan (Pakistan)
• Bishop Echchampulle Arachchige Jude Nishantha Silva, Badulla (Sri Lanka)

The release offered warmest congratulations to Archbishop Gordon in his new responsibility in service of the universal Church. It concluded asking the faithful “to join in prayer for him and for all members of the Dicastery as they continue the vital work of building bridges among faith communities across the globe”.

The Prefect for the Dicastery is Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, who was appointed by Pope Francis in January this year.

According to the Vatican website (www.vatican.va), “The Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue promotes and supervises relations with members and groups of non-Christian religions, with the exception of Judaism, competence for which belongs to the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.”

It works to ensure such dialogue occurs “in an appropriate way, with an attitude of listening, esteem and respect”. Relations are fostered in different ways with non-Christian religions “so that, through the contribution of all, peace, freedom, social justice, the protection and safeguarding of creation, and spiritual and moral values may be promoted.”

The Dicastery assists diocesan/eparchial bishops in the formation of people engaged in interreligious dialogue.