Lumbini (AsiaNews) – The meeting between Benedict XVI and the Dalai Lama is "a unique moment that heralds peace in bringing together the disciples of Christ and Buddha. Only they can stop the wave of violence and terrorism coming from those who use religion for political ends." This was the feedback gathered by AsiaNews from Catholics and Buddhists in Lumbini, the "cradle of Buddha", about the private audience given yesterday by the pontiff to the leader of the Tibetan Buddhists.

Bhante Satyabrata, a Buddhist monk, said: "For me, the meeting between the two is a historic event, perhaps a divine dispensation to stop current bloodshed in the name of religion. The two men have a message for peace lovers: their meeting has an important symbolic value."

The monk said: "This wave of violence has no religious content, it is only a political tool in the hands of those who desire domination and who use the faith of many to justify their thirst for power."

He added: "The Pope and Dalai Lama have no big armies, but they are the monarchs of the hearts of millions of people all over the world. Their meeting was focused on peace not violence. This event is a living witness that God is not myopic to our requests and actively strives to make love triumph over hatred."

Sr Celestine, a Catholic religious, said: "The two religious leaders emphasized how important interfaith dialogue is in these times. Christianity and Buddhism have different rituals and traditions, but they promote the same theology of peace."

She added: "It is not a coincidence that Christ is the prince of peace and Buddha is called the apostle of peace. The meeting wants to send a clear message that comes from God: those who perpetrate violence in the name of religion are perpetrating sacrilegious acts. They are sinners who need prayers."

Devendra Nath Nepali, a Hindu activist, told AsiaNews: "What the leaders of Buddhism and Christianity did yesterday should be imitated by all other religious leaders. A meeting between Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Jews and all other faiths, called to discuss how to stop violence, could change the world."

He added: "I do not believe the weapons of the United Nations can win over violence. Only the weapons of our religious leaders, love and dialogue, can truly put a stop the shedding of innocent blood across the world."