Speaking to a delegation of Buddhists from Thailand, he said "Sadly, on all sides, we hear the cry of a wounded humanity and a broken earth".

Inviting Buddhists to continue to work together with the Catholic Church "to cultivate compassion and hospitality for all human beings, especially the poor and marginalised," Francis pointed to our shared humanity.

Both Christians and Buddhists need to guide their respective followers to recognise more vividly the truth that "we are all brothers and sisters," he said.

"It follows that we should work together to cultivate compassion and hospitality for all human beings, especially the poor and marginalised.

"We need to deal with violence too," he said.

"The Buddha and Jesus understood the need to overcome the egoism that gives rise to conflict and violence.

"The Dhammapada sums up the Buddha's teachings thus: 'To avoid evil, to cultivate good and to cleanse one's mind - this is the teaching of the Buddha'. (Dph 183).

"Jesus told his disciples: ‘I give you a new Commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.'" (Jn 13:34).

The main reason for the Buddhist delegation's visit to the Vatican was to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the meeting between St. Paul VI and the 17th supreme Buddhist patriarch of Thailand, Somdej Phra Wannarat.

Thanking them for their visit, Francis told them he wanted to renew the bonds of friendship and mutual collaboration.

Renewing Paul VI's sentiments when he met the Thai delegation 50 years ago, Francis said: "We have a profound regard for the spiritual, moral and socio-cultural treasures that have been bestowed on you through your precious traditions."

The past 50 years have seen a gradual and steady growth of "friendly dialogue and close collaboration" between the two religious traditions, he noted.

Recalling his apostolic visit to Thailand in 2019, Francis recalled "the wonderful welcome and hospitality" he received.

"At a time when our human family and our planet are facing manifold threats, such friendly dialogue and close collaboration are all the more necessary," he said.

Source

• Vatican News
• UCA News

The prize was established to honor and encourage individuals and organizations that have contributed significantly to interreligious cooperation.

The Japan-based Niwano Peace Prize Committee says the Foundation has been "a visible and committed actor for peace in Lebanon and elsewhere in the Middle East region."

It noted Adyan focuses on both high-level and grassroots engagement.

The Committee says Adyan demonstrates "the inclusive and interfaith values/principles the Niwano Award seeks to recognize."

The Adyan (Arabic for "religions") Foundation was established in 2006.

Since then it has worked to take interreligious dialogue.

This includes "apologetic debates and populist complacency, to a common commitment in what we call ‘religious social responsibility,'" Maronite Father Fadi Daou says.

Daou, who is the president of Adyan Foundation, is one of its five founding members.

Each founder follows a different denomination of Christianity and Islam.

Daou says the prize has moved Lebanon "a firm step further toward its recognition as a world center for dialogue between cultures and religions.

"Peace has a specific name in Lebanon, and that is ‘living-together,'" he added.

An award presentation ceremony will take place in Tokyo on 9 May.

The Adyan Foundation will be given an award certificate, a medal and a cash prize of 20 million yen.

Source

• Crux Now
• Cision
• Image: Asia News