Why did St. Paul VI create a Vatican office focused on nonbelievers?

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Pope Paul VI stands behind microphones with both arms raised, wearing white papal robes and glasses, during a public appearance in Geneva. — St. Paul VI In 1968 Pope Paul VI appeared in Geneva to address the International Labour Organization on the 50th anniversary of its founding.

St. Paul VI established a special secretariat for nonbelievers to address the challenges posed by atheism and to foster a deeper understanding of those who profess no religion at all.1

This initiative was part of his broader commitment to human concern and his efforts to lessen tensions between the church and the wider world. By creating this office, he sought to engage with the realities of the modern age, emphasizing the necessity of mutual acquaintance and dialogue as the foundation for any hopes of unity or peace. His approach reflected a consistent desire to confront the problems of the time with realistic courage, aiming to bridge divides while maintaining the church's witness to its traditions.12