The Vatican has called on Christians and Hindus to avoid giving in to “contempt for human dignity”, the “curtailment of the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens, including religious rights” and “aggression” against those who are different and instead collaborate using religion to build peace.
Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue
Zayed Award for Human Fraternity
The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity has today announced Their Majesties King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein and Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan as honorees of the 2022 award, alongside Haitian humanitarian organization FOKAL.
Inspired by the co-signing of the Document on Human Fraternity by His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence Grand Imam of Al-Azhar in Abu Dhabi in 2019, the award recognises the honorees for their contributions to building a more peaceful, harmonious and compassionate world based on the values of human fraternity.
This year’s award was decided by an independent judging committee, composed of former heads of state, a Nobel peace laureate, and experts in interfaith and intercultural dialogue drawn from around the world.
Fraternity, a Way to Build the Future: A conference one year after Fratelli Tutti
On November 8 and 9, 2021, the conference The Culture of Encounter: The Future of Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue was held at the headquarters of La Civiltà Cattolica, co-organized by Georgetown University, Washington D.C.[1] It was the most recent in a series of collaborations between the two distinguished Jesuit Institutions, which began two years ago and continues to bear fruit. Among these is the “China forum for Civilizational Dialogue.”[2] Pope Francis sent the following letter for the occasion. Here follows, as documentation of the event, an article that appeared in “L’Osservatore Romano”, on November 9, 2021, by Roberto Cetera.
Buddhists and Christians – Promoting a Culture of Care and Solidarity
The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue has published a letter to all “Buddhist Friends”, expressing greetings and best wishes on the occasion of Vesakh. Signed by the Council President, Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, mccj , and its Secretary, Msgr Indunil Janakaratne Kodithuwakku Kankanamalage, the Letter expresses the Council’s wish to “strengthen our bonds of friendship and further unite us in service to the human family”, particularly amid the “dramatic situation of the Covid-19 pandemic”. The following is the English text of the letter.
‘Christians and Hindus: Rekindling Positivity and Hope during the Covid-19 Pandemic and Beyond’
The Vatican greets Hindus on the occasion of Diwali, festival of light. The occasion of Diwali is celebrated by all Hindus, and is known as Deepavali, or the “row of oil lamps”. Symbolically based on ancient mythology, it represents the victory of truth over lies, of light over darkness, of life over death, and of good over evil. The actual celebration lasts three days, marking the beginning of a new year, family reconciliation, especially between brothers and sisters, and worship of God. This year the feast will be celebrated by many Hindus on Nov. 14, 2020. Here, we share the message from the Vatican to Hindus:
Serving a Wounded World: The Good Samaritan and Covid-19
The World Council of Churches in collaboration with the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue have prepared a document on interreligious collaboration during the time of coronavirus. In this article, we bring you the Preamble, focussed on the story of the Good Samaritan, a profound and challenging story of human response to suffering. We include a synopsis of the world situation.
WCC, Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue release “Serving a Wounded World” document
The World Council of Churches and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue have released a joint document, “Serving a Wounded World in Interreligious Solidarity: A Christian Call to Reflection and Action During COVID-19 and Beyond.” Its purpose is to encourage churches and Christian organizations to reflect on the importance of interreligious solidarity in a world wounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Religions can be part of the solution for peace, not the problem, faith leaders say
VATICAN CITY (Religion News Service) — When John Lennon wrote his hit song “Imagine,” eliminating religions and the divisions they entail was in his view a necessary condition for “living life in peace.” A meeting of religious representatives in Rome this week made the case for shifting that paradigm.
The Abrahamic Faiths Initiative group united 25 religious leaders representing millions of Christian, Muslim and Jewish faithful to discuss practical ways of promoting peace and fraternity at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome Jan. 14-16.
Vatican: Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue Meets with World Council of Churches
The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue hosts a one day meeting aimed at enhancing interreligious solidarity in the service of a vulnerable and wounded humanity. The Prefect of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Cardinal Ayuso, tells, We are called to collaborate in healing the wounds of our humanity.
Serving a Wounded Humanity: Towards Interreligious Solidarity
The World Council of Churches (WCC) Office for Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue met on 10 December to reflect on their next joint project entitled “Serving a Wounded Humanity: Towards Interreligious Solidarity.”
Vatican Message to Muslims for Ramadan
The Vatican appreciates the importance of this month of Ramadan and the great effort by the Muslims throughout the world to fast, pray and share the Almighty’s gifts with the poor. The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue addresses a vital aspect of relations between Christians and Muslims: the need to move from competition to collaboration. The Vatican sends Ramadan greetings to Muslims.
Vatican Calls Christians, Buddhists to Work to End Corruption
The Vatican – the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue – sends greetings to the Buddhists of the world on occasion of Vesak and seeks cooperation in ending corruption.
