Vatican City, May 15, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Earlier today, the Vatican publicized a Message sent by the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue to Buddhists who will celebrate the feast of Vesakh.
Written in English, the message was signed by Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, president of the pontifical council.
The feast of Vesakh is mobile on the Buddhist calendar and marks important events in the life of Gautama Buddha.
Archbishop Fitzgerald noted that this year is the 40th anniversary of "Nostra Aetate," Vatican II’s document on the relationship of the Church to other religions, which states that, “the Catholic Church rejects nothing of what is true and holy in these religions.”