The door, he said, "is not an abstract theory but a lived experience" which enables one to have real dialogue, "not a mere exchange of ideas." And going through this door requires "good will and acceptance," he said, but stressed that this attitude is "not to be confused with indifference or reticence in expressing our most deeply held convictions."
Pope Francis then turned to the image of the ladder, saying it is one "that reaches up to the Absolute." By looking to this transcendent aspect of interreligious activity, he said, "we realize the need for our hearts to be purified, so that we can see all things in their truest perspective."
Finally, he said the path they must take is one that leads "to the pursuit of goodness, justice and solidarity."
"It leads to seeking the good of our neighbors," he said, explaining that when religious concern for the good of others comes from an open heart, it "flows outward like a vast river, to quench the dry and parched wastelands of hatred, corruption, poverty and violence that so damage human lives, tear families apart, and disfigure the gift of creation."
This spirit of openness, acceptance and cooperation among believers doesn't just contribute to a culture of harmony and peace, but is "its beating heart."
The world desperately needs this heart to beat strongly, he said, in order "to counter the virus of political corruption, destructive religious ideologies, and the temptation to turn a blind eye to the needs of the poor, refugees, persecuted minorities, and those who are most vulnerable."
"How much, too, is such openness needed in order to reach out to the many people in our world, especially the young, who at times feel alone and bewildered as they search for meaning in life!"
Pope Francis closed his speech thanking the leaders for their efforts to promote a culture of encounter among the different religions in Bangladesh, and prayed that they would help all believers "to grow in wisdom and holiness, and to cooperate in building an ever more humane, united and peaceful world."
In his greeting to the Pope, Cardinal D'Rozario said the religious harmony that exists in Bangladesh "is rooted in our cultural identity." The fact that they live peacefully in a multi-religious and multi-ethnic context, he said, is a heritage "we proudly enshrine in our hearts and we feel so much pain when this sacrosanct heritage is attacked and harmony is disturbed."
He said Bangladesh continues to "march forward" with the hope of building up humanity through integral development and care of the planet, and voiced the Church's commitment to "cherish harmony and love peace" in the nation.
Francis was also greeted by five leaders of the different religious communities in Bangladesh, including Grand Imam and Mufti of Bangladesh, Farid Uddin Masud, on behalf of the country's Muslim community; Swami Dhruveshananda Adhyaksha on behalf of the Hindu community, and Sanghanayaka Suddhananda Mahathero on behalf of the Buddhist community, among others.
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In his greeting, Imam Masud said the world today needs compassion and love more than anything else.
"The only remedy and solution to the problem of malice, envy and fighting among nations, races and creeds lies in the compassionate love preached and practiced by the great men and women of the world," he said, and praised Pope Francis for his "tireless efforts" on behalf of the oppressed, regardless of religion, caste or nationality.
"This is a great inspiration for all of us," he said, and pointed specifically to the Pope's support of the Rohingya Muslims from Burma, saying the Pope's concern for them "will bring a positive result in regard to the attempts to ensure their human rights."
The Muslim community in Bangladesh, he said, "pay our tribute and show respect" to Pope Francis for his attention not only to the Rohingya, but to people of all faiths, adding that the Pope's role in promoting world peace "deserves our wholehearted respect."
On his part, Swami Dhruveshananda Adhyaksha, representing the Hindu community, said that while the religions of those gathered may be different, "the objective is the same."
"Just as all the rivers which originate from different sources blend into the same ocean, so all religions, though different, lead to the same beatitude," he said, adding that "we have the duty to remain firm in the ideals we believe in, showing due respect for others."