By Parabhakti Dasa
On Monday, May 19, 2025, Pope Leo XIV held a special audience in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace, meeting with representatives of various religious groups who had come to Rome for his inaugural Mass. This included Orthodox and Protestant leaders, as well as representatives from Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Sikh, and Jain communities.
This is a significant gesture, clearly demonstrating a desire not only to continue along the path of interreligious dialogue but to deepen it and make it increasingly inclusive. “Now is the time for dialogue and building bridges,” the pope said during the gathering with the leaders religious.
Representing the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) were Bhakta Matteo and Bhakta Alessandro, who had the honor of presenting a copy of the Bhagavad-gita As It Is to the Holy Father. Pope Leo XIV received it with joy, recalling that the text had been part of his studies during his time in the seminary (although it is not known which edition he had read).
We sincerely hope that the spirit of collaboration and mutual respect that Srila Prabhupada sought to establish with the Vatican during his visit to Italy in 1974 can find renewed momentum in this pontificate. This meeting represents a meaningful opportunity to strengthen the bonds between spiritual traditions, united in the shared intention to promote deep spiritual values and love for Krishna, God.
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