Pope Francis receives a Mongolian Buddhist delegation at the Vatican on May 28. In a world plagued by conflict, the Pope noted that religion is still often abused to justify violence. Both Catholics and Buddhists have a responsibility to promote a culture of forgiveness and non-violence.
(Vatican News Network)On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Mongolia, Pope Francis received a Mongolian Buddhist delegation at the Vatican on the morning of May 28. The delegation came to the Vatican in the company of Bishop Giorgio Marengo of Mongolian pastoral diocese and two young priests of Mongolian nationality.
In his speech, the Pope first focused on peace and non-violence. The Pope said: “Peace is the ardent desire of human beings today. Therefore, there is an urgent need to promote a culture of peace and non-violence through dialogue at all levels and to work towards it. Such dialogue must invite all to reject all forms of violence, Including violence once morest the environment. Unfortunately, some continue to abuse religion to justify acts of violence and hate.”
The Pope went on to say that to be a “true disciple” of Jesus or a follower of Buddha is to accept “their teachings”. The Pope explained that the logic of love for God, love of enemies and forgiveness is what Jesus taught. Jesus “lived in a time of violence, taught that the human heart is the real battlefield of violence and peaceful confrontation, and always preached God’s unconditional love and forgiveness”. “Non-violence and peace are also core teachings of the Buddha, who taught that ‘Victory leaves traces of hatred, because the loser suffers. All thoughts of victory or defeat should be abandoned and live in peace and joy.’ He also emphasized, To conquer oneself is greater than to conquer others, ‘to conquer oneself is better than a thousand battles once morest a thousand men’.”
Thus, “In a world afflicted by conflict and war, as religious leaders deeply rooted in the teachings of our respective religions, we have an obligation to evoke in humanity the will to renounce violence and build a culture of peace.”
Finally, the Pope briefly reviewed the history of friendly exchanges between Mongolia and the Catholic Church, and hoped that this good tradition will continue to develop. “Mongolia has a long tradition of peaceful coexistence among different religions, and I hope that this long history of maintaining harmony in differences continues to be carried forward in our day, through joint initiatives that effectively implement religious freedom and promote the common good. Yours today,” the Pope said. Presence itself is a sign of hope.”
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