Varanasi, spiritual leaders: Religious diversity, foundation of peace and dialogue
Mumbai (AsiaNews) - An interfaith gathering of Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Jains spiritual leaders, organized to "celebrate religious diversity to promote a world of peace and love" concluded today in Varanasi. During the meeting (14-16 February) the 50th anniversary of the promulgation of the conciliar declaration Nostra Aetate (28 October 1965) was marked.
The President of the Office for interreligious dialogue for the Catholic Bishops 'Conference of India (CBCI) and the Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC), Msgr. Felix Machado told AsiaNews: "The purpose and goal of our dialogue in Varanasi is to spread a message of peace, which is the 'primary good of mankind'."
A Vatican delegation composed of three members of the Pontifical Council for
Interreligious Dialogue, including Msgr. Thomas Dabre, bishop of Pune
(Maharashtra) also attended. Msgr.
Machado was also joined by Msgr. Albert D'Souza, Archbishop of Agra and
Secretary General of CBCI and Msgr. Peter Parapallil, bishop of Jhansi and
chairman of the Commission for Interreligious Dialogue of the regional council
of the bishops of Agra (Arbc). Msgr. Salvatore Pennacchio, Apostolic Nuncio in India, also
participated in the rally.
The decision to
meet in Varanasi has a precise meaning. Msgr. Machado, who is bishop of Vasai,
points out - Varanasi is a Holy city where people of all faiths live in
harmony. Believers of Hindusim and
Buddhism, our Muslim brethren and also a sizable Jain community- all coexist mutual
tolerance and peaceful harmony in
society for generations. "
"Asia - says the prelate - Asia continues to reflect the religious diversity
of the planet. Inter-religious dialogue is not something new that the church
has undertaken but it is a part of the Christian faith. We are commemorating
the Golden Jubilee of "Nostra Aetate," , which declared that
the "spiritual, moral, and socio-cultural values (of non-Christian
religions) were to be respected, protected and encouraged".
"The
shared experience of humanity and the communion of humanity - he continues - constitute
the basic theological foundation of inter religious dialogue. It is necessary and possible to enter into
dialogue, respecting differences, in diversity, in faith, and thus to become
open to one another".
Speaking to AsiaNews, Msgr. Dabre
declares: "Differences can lead to beautiful experiences. However, even if
we celebrate diversity, we must guard against those who say that relativism is,
in turn, eclecticism and syncretism. On the contrary, we must recognize our
differences and learn to live with them".
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07/11/2005
