Whose Errand?

What exactly is this solidarity or fraternity? Is it the same as friendship in Christ, or charity? How does the pope know that God desires this? Has he revealed it through Christ?

CNA: Pope Francis: God desires solidarity among Catholics and Muslims

“Why does God allow so many religions?” Pope Francis asked at his general audience following the trip.“Scholastic theologians referred to the ‘permissive will’ of God. He willed to permit this reality: that there are many religions,” he said.

So we must look for the full text for the audience to see what he meant by this.





Finally... a full text.


Let us assume that it is an accurate translation of the Italian:

Why are there so many religions, and why ever are there so many religions? With the Muslims we are descendants of the same Father, Abraham: why does God permit so many religions? God willed to permit this: the theologians of Scholasticism referred to God’s permissive voluntas. He willed to permit this reality: there are so many religions; some are born of the culture, but always looking to Heaven, looking at God. However, what God wills is fraternity among us in a special way — here is the reason for this trip — with our brothers, children of Abraham like us, the Muslims. We must not be scared by the difference: God has permitted this. We must be scared if we don’t act with fraternity, to walk together in life.

He is confused about what "permissive will" means, since it [generally] does not mean that God allows it as a good thing -- rather, it is a bad thing which God nonetheless allows. Pope Francis seems to be saying that God permits the plurality of religions, which all look at God (false) -- and that we should take solace in the fact that God has permitted this and have some sort of fraternity with Muslims.