Pope tells Christians, Buddhists to work together for peace May 28, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, News, Vatican, World News VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Christians and Buddhists must be willing to work together to “bring a ray of hope to a desperate humanity,” Pope Francis said. Speaking to a delegation of Buddhist monks from the Wat Pho monastery in Bangkok, Thailand, May 27, the pope recalled the Buddhist-Christian colloquium which brought 150 participants from across Asia to Thailand in November 2023 to reflect on the theme of healing humanity and the earth. “Today humanity and the earth, our common home, are indeed wounded!” he said during the meeting at the Vatican. “So many wars, so many people who have lost everything and have been forced to flee, so many children affected by violence.” Pope Francis noted that one of the outcomes of the colloquium was agreement on the need to work together in today’s “interconnected and interdependent” society. “In light of this truth, I urge you to work together with everyone: civil society, members of other religions, governments, international organizations, academic and scientific communities and all other interested parties to promote a friendship that sustains peace and fraternity and builds a more inclusive world,” he said. The pope also recalled his 2019 trip to Thailand and his meeting there with the supreme patriarch of Thailand’s Buddhist community, Somdej Phra Maha Muneewong. “The culture of encounter is possible, not only within our communities but also in our world, so prone to creating and spreading conflict and exclusion,” the pope told the patriarch during their 2019 meeting. “When we have the opportunity to appreciate and esteem one another in spite of our differences, we offer a word of hope to the world, which can encourage and support those who increasingly suffer the harmful effects of conflict.” Read More Ecumenism & Interfaith Relations More than 2,400 anti-Christian hate crimes occurred in Europe in 2023, report finds No white smoke, lay voters and say of king — how Anglican leader is elected Pope: Church venerates Christian martyrs from all denominations British Catholics react to Anglican archbishop’s shock resignation Dutch church leaders react with shock to antisemitic violence in Amsterdam In ecumenical meetings, pope points to shared saints, shared mission Copyright © 2024 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Print
