Vatican City, Mar 31, 2011 / 18:32 pm
The President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue highlighted the importance of pursuing truth in a March 31 message greeting the world's Buddhists, who will soon be celebrating the holiday informally known as “Buddha's birthday.”
“In the pursuit of authentic peace, a commitment to seek truth is a necessary condition,” wrote Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran. “All persons have a natural duty to seek truth, to follow it and freely to live their lives in accordance with it.” He cited the Second Vatican Council's declaration “Dignitatis Humanae,” which states that all people have this duty “especially in what concerns God and His Church.”
In anticipation of the Buddhist holiday of Vesakh, also known as Hanamatsuri, the cardinal reminded Buddhists of the Church's positive attitude toward inter-religious dialogue and cooperation. He recalled the words of Pope Benedict XVI, who described such activities as “an important means of cooperating with all religious communities for the common good,” while acknowledging important differences.
“Such dialogue is also a powerful stimulus to respect for the fundamental human rights of freedom of conscience and freedom of worship,” Cardinal Tauran noted.