Catholic World News News Feature

Dalai Lama to visit Pope on Thursday November 25, 2003

Pope John Paul II will meet with the Dalai Lama on Thursday, November 27.

In October, during a visit to Prague, the Buddhist leader indicated his desire to meet with Pope John Paul, to congratulate the Pontiff on the 25th anniversary of his election and to thank him for his work for world peace. He is in Rome this week at the invitation of an Italian lawmakers' group.

The spiritual leader of Tibet's Buddhists, and symbol of that country's national aspirations, the Dalai Lama has lived in exile since 1950. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.

He has met with Pope John Paul on several previous occasions, and has allied himself wholeheartedly with Vatican efforts to promote religious freedom, especially in China and occupied Tibet.