Today, Pope Francis has turned 88. Perhaps, there are few people who have worked as hard as he has at this age. Pope Francis is a first in many ways. The first Jesuit to hold the position of the Pope. The first person to be elected Pope from the American continents. The first person to be elected Pope from a country known as the Global south from the southern hemisphere. The first person to be elected Pope from Latin America. The first Pope who had his Theological training entirely in the post-Counciliar period. He has many such first-time feathers in his hat.

I believe these reasons explain why the European Church, the North American Church, and other Churches that place the highest value on tradition, show so much of reluctance to understand and accept him.

However, it seems that there has never been another “bridge builder” who has brought not only the Orthodox Churches, but also the Protestant Churches, so closely to the Catholic Church. If we trace the origin of the word Pontificus, we can see that it comes from words meaning "bridge builder".

If this is the case with the churches, then the case with other religions is no different. In fact, it was Pope John Paul II who convened a prayer meeting of leaders of world religions in Assisi in 1986. It must be admitted that he has done it again since then. Of course, Karol Wojtyla from Poland was also very popular. However, due to the attitude of dialogue and friendship adopted by Pope Francis which is the spirit of the Second Vatican Council, and the openness he showed in visiting Israel, and Islamic and Buddhist - majority countries, has led to the abandonment of attitudes of opposition and hostility among all the world's religions. I would like to observe that there is more harmony, respect and closeness between religions and churches than ever before. If there are instances where the possibilities for dialogue between Communities is becoming nil, and hostility and rivalry are on the grow, we will have to seriously worry about the future of such Communitie