Truth is key to peace, Vatican says in message to world's Buddhists
March 31, 2011
In an annual message to the world’s Buddhists, the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue stresses the importance of seeking truth, as a requirement for peace.
The Vatican statement says that “in the pursuit of authentic peace, a commitment to seek truth is a necessary condition.” The quest for truth, the statement explains, “offers a fruitful opportunity for the followers of the different religions to encounter one another in depth and to grow in appreciation of the gifts of each.”
Genuine inter-religious dialogue, marked by the shared goal of finding the truth, is a much-needed antidote to “forms of secularism and fundamentalism that are often inimical to true freedom and spiritual values,” the Vatican says. The statement emphasizes the necessity of respecting religious freedom as a means of encouraging the pursuit of truth.
The statement is timed for the celebration of the Buddhist feast of Vesakh, which is observed in some countries in April, in others in May. The statement is signed by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran and Archbishop Pier Luigi Celata, the president and secretary, respectively, of the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue.
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