Catholic Cardinal Delivers 377th Lion Sermon to City Anglican Community

Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, delivered the 377th Lion Sermon at the Guild Church of St Katharine Cree in the City of London. The annual sermon honors Sir John Gayer, Lord Mayor of London, who prayed for divine protection after encountering a lion during a journey to Syria in 1643. Upon his safe return, Gayer established St Katharine Cree to aid the poor and instituted a yearly sermon emphasizing overcoming challenges through faith.

Born in India and ordained in the Syro-Malabar Church, Cardinal Koovakad leads the Roman Catholic Church’s global efforts in interfaith dialogue. His visit followed a personal letter from the late Pope Francis to St Katharine Cree’s Latin American congregation, endorsing its ministry in London and offering his prayers and encouragement.

The Lion Sermon gathered a diverse audience including members of Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Jain, and Latter Day Saints communities, reflecting a long-standing commitment to interfaith dialogue and mutual understanding.

Drawing on Sir John Gayer’s story, Cardinal Koovakad identified three “lions” of the present era: an ecological and economic crisis that disproportionately affects the poor; a geopolitical crisis marked by increasing wars and strain on the multilateral order; and a religious crisis characterized by rising nationalism, polarization, and discrimination. He noted that these challenges are interconnected, with religious minorities bearing the brunt due to their existing vulnerabilities.

The Cardinal emphasized the potential of interreligious collaboration as a space for active citizenship and urged religious voices to participate in global decision-making processes. He concluded by encouraging the congregation to plant “one seed of dialogue this week” with a neighbor, colleague, or stranger of another faith, stating, “Seeds are small. But every forest began with one.”

Revd Josh Harris, Priest-in-Charge of St Katharine Cree and Director of the church’s Joseph Centre for Dignified Work, expressed appreciation for Cardinal Koovakad’s visit and the shared recognition of the “lions” facing the community. He highlighted the enduring bonds between different faiths in London and beyond, which he described as a cherished legacy.

Source: Read the original report