Originally published at crisis magazine
St. Ignatius of Loyola was investigated by the Spanish Inquisition and was quite docile through the ordeal. Perhaps an echo of what he experienced can be heard in one of the principles he laid out in his Spiritual Exercises about putting the best construction on the expressions of other people that touch on God and Sacred Doctrine.
It should be presupposed that every good Christian ought to be more eager to put a good interpretation on a neighbor’s statement than to condemn it. Further, if he cannot interpret it favorably, one should ask how the other means it. If that meaning is wrong, one should correct the person with love; and if this is not enough, one should search out every appropriate means through which, by understanding the statement in a good way, it may be saved. (SE 22)
Applying that principle to the news reports about the pope’s chat with some young people during his Asian trip, perhaps we can say that the Holy Father was expressing respect for all religions that lead man to transcendence.
He said, in my imperfect translation from the Italian, “all religions are ways to get to (arrive at) God.” This cannot in itself imply
