VATICAN - Religious freedom is not merely a legal right or a privilege granted to us by governments; it is a foundational condition that makes authentic reconciliation possible. When this freedom is denied, the human person is deprived of the capacity to respond freely to the call of truth. What follows is a slow disintegration of the ethical and spiritual bonds that sustain communities; trust gives way to fear, suspicion replaces dialogue, and oppression breeds violence. Indeed, as my venerable predecessor observed, “there can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression and respect for the views of others” (Francis, Urbi Et Orbi, 20 April 2025). For this reason, the Catholic Church HAS ALWAYS DEFENDED RELIGIOUS FREEDOM FOR ALL PEOPLE.