They will more readily recognize and overcome any ingrained prejudices towards people who are different. At the same time the Spirit of Jesus will help the Christian partners in dialogue to remain firm in their own faith in Jesus Christ. If Christians cultivate such openness and allow themselves to be tested, they will be able to gather the fruits of dialogue. They will discover with admiration all that God's action through Jesus Christ in his Spirit has accomplished and continues to accomplish in the world and in the whole of humanity. As we know, relations between people of different religions are not always smooth.
Tensions can arise.
In our time we have seen how, unfortunately, religion can be used to arouse hatred and set people one against the other. Yet we may have experienced also moments of reconciliation, when differences are overcome and hearts are united once more. This knitting together of hearts can come about through silent prayer together, where the silence seems to open up a space for the Spirit. There was such a moment at the beginning of the Day of Prayer for Peace, held in Assisi in 1986, when the representatives of different religions stood together with the Holy Father, in silence, at the Portiuncula. The same impression was given by the moment of silence during the concluding ceremony in St Peter's Square, at the end of the Interreligious Assembly held last October.