Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - This year, on the occasion of the most important Buddhist festival of Vesakh, which commemorates the main events in the life of Buddha, the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue has written a congratulatory message to the Buddhists, signed by the Council’s President, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, and its Secretary, Archbishop Pier Luigi Celata. “Christians and Buddhists: Caring for the Planet Earth” is the theme of the message for the feast, which will be celebrated May 12-18.
Emphasizing the “positive relations” that Catholics and Buddhists have enjoyed for many years, and hoping that they will “continue to work together to build a better world not only for ourselves but also for the entire human family,” the message recalls the importance of dialogue, that “fosters the desire within the person and the community to share the goodwill and harmony which already exists.” The message to the Buddhists later makes reference to the 2008 Message for the World Day of Peace, in which Pope Benedict XVI encourages care for the environment, that “has been entrusted to men and women to be protected and cultivated with responsible freedom, with the good of all as a constant guiding criterion” (no. 7). In addition, the United Nations General Assembly has also declared 2008 as The International Year of Planet Earth.
The message reads: “Many governments, NGOs, multi-national companies, and research and tertiary institutes, in recognizing the ethical implications present in all economic and social development, are investing financial resources as well as sharing expertise on biodiversity, climate change, environmental protection and conservation. Religious leaders, too, are contributing to the public debate. This contribution is of course not just a reaction to the more recent pressing threats associated with global warming. Christianity and Buddhism have always upheld a great respect for nature and taught that we should be grateful stewards of the earth.”
In the conclusion, a question is posed: “On a practical level can we Christians and Buddhists not do more to collaborate in projects which confirm the responsibility that falls to each and everyone of us?” Thus, the Message later encourages “careful stewardship,” to “be harbingers of hope for a clean, safe and harmonious world,” and “through public education and our good example in respecting nature, act with responsibility “towards our one common planet Earth.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 30/4/2008; righe 34, parole 383)
