9/11 Museum Program Focuses on ‘Interfaith Dialogue’ with Rabbi, Imam, Cardinal

Three of the participants  in the historic Multireligous Meeting for Peace led by Pope Francis inside the 9/11 Memorial Museum were reunited last night at the museum.

“Interfaith dialogue isn’t just one thing,” said Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove, who was joined on stage by Imam Khalid Latif and Cardinal Timothy Dolan as part of the museum’s public programming. “The first step is to acknowledge the humanity of the other. You don’t have to be wrong for me to be right.”

The three men reflected on the pope’s visit in September, talked about the value of interfaith dialogue and explained why having these types of discussions at the museum are fitting.  

When he stood in the museum with the pope and other religious leaders, Imam Latif told the crowd that he was reminded of the positive legacy of 9/11.

 “On stage, my mind wasn’t drawn to the worst of humanity, but the best of humanity on 9/11,” he said.

Before arriving for the interfaith meeting, the pope was astonished by the convening power of the museum, Cardinal Dolan said.  “There aren’t many countries where you can do what we are about to do. All these religions coming together, not just tolerating, but celebrating and enjoying it,” Dolan said Pope Francis told him.

The pope was moved not only with the museum, but the spirit of New York City. Dolan disclosed that as Pope Francis departed the city in a helicopter, he asked the pilot to circle the Statue of Liberty. After going around once, he requested they circle her again.

By 9/11 Memorial Staff