Pope praised by Hindus for permitting use of a verse from Hindu scriptures in Good Friday meditations

(April 14,2009):Hindus have applauded Pope Benedict XVI for permitting the use of a verse from ancient Hindu scripture- Upanishads, in the Good Friday Meditations and prayers, led by him at Rome’s Colosseum. A noted Hindu statesman, Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada, United States, said on Monday, that it was a remarkable gesture from the Pope, and invited him to study more ancient Hindu scriptures, which were very rich in philosophical thought. Zed said that he, or other Hindu scholars, would gladly provide the help and resources in this regard, if asked. Zed, who is president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, also commended Pope Benedict for the inclusion of a verse from India’s Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore’s “Gitanjali”, and for his reference to peace icon Mahatma Gandhi in these meditations.
Pope Benedict had commissioned Indian Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil of Guwahati, Assam, to write the Good Friday meditations this year. Rajan Zed stressed that all religions should work together for a just and peaceful world. Dialogue would bring us mutual enrichment, he added.