Pius XI: The vast majority of people believe in God and pay tribute to Him
72. But in this battle joined by the powers of darkness against the very idea of Divinity, it is Our fond hope that, besides the host which glories in the name of Christ, all those - and they comprise the overwhelming majority of mankind, - who still believe in God and pay Him homage may take a decisive part. We therefore renew the invitation extended to them five years ago in Our Encyclical Caritate Christi, invoking their loyal and hearty collaboration "in order to ward off from mankind the great danger that threatens all alike." Since, as We then said, "belief in God is the unshakable foundation of all social order and of all responsibility on earth, it follows that all those who do not want anarchy and terrorism ought to take energetic steps to prevent the enemies of religion from attaining the goal they have so brazenly proclaimed to the world."
The quote is from an encyclical "Divini redemptoris" (72); vatican.va/…370319_divini-redemptoris.html
Jews and Muslims did not make up the majority of mankind, so who was Pius XI writing about? About those who, decades later, gathered for an interreligious meeting in Assisi.
It is worth recalling that Pius XII taught:
16. Nor can We pass over in silence the profound impression of heartfelt gratitude made on Us by the good wishes of those who, though not belonging to the visible body of the Catholic Church, have given noble and sincere expression to their appreciation of all that unites them to Us in love for the Person of Christ or in belief in God. We wish to express Our gratitude to them all. We entrust them one and all to the protection and to the guidance of the Lord and We assure them solemnly that one thought only fills Our mind: to imitate the example of the Good Shepherd in order to bring true happiness to all men: "that they may have life, and may have it more abundantly" (Saint John x. 10).
The quote is from an encyclical "Summi Pontificatus" 16; vatican.va/…101939_summi-pontificatus.html
Worth reading:
Saint John Paul II preached Christ in Assisi
St. John Paul II imitated St. Paul the Apostle
Saint John Paul II imitated these popes
„Peoples everywhere, open the doors to Christ!”
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