(May 17, 2010) The Vatican has called for greater cooperation between Christians
and Buddhists to help create a greater “sense of ecological responsibility,” in their
common quest for respect for human life and dignity. The call came in a message
the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Inter-religious dialogue released on Monday,
to wish Buddhists around the world on the occasion of their feast of Vesakh, which
this years falls on May 21, Friday. Vesakh commemorates the principal events in
the life of Buddhism's founder, Gautama Buddha. The pontifical council’s message
pointed out that “the Catholic Church considers the protection of the environment
as intimately linked to the theme of integral human development; and for her part,
she is committed not only to promoting the protection of land, water and air as gifts
destined for everyone, but also to encouraging others to join the efforts to protect
mankind from self-destruction.” “Our responsibility to protect nature,” it said,
“springs, in fact, from our respect for one another.” “Consequently, when human ecology
is respected within society, environmental ecology also benefits.” The Vatican’s
message for Vesakh noted that both Christians and Buddhists have a profound respect
for human life. “It is crucial therefore that we encourage efforts to create a sense
of ecological responsibility, while at the same time reaffirming our shared convictions
about the inviolability of human life at every stage and in every condition, the dignity
of the person and the unique mission of the family, where one learns to love one’s
neighbour and to respect nature,” the message said. The pontifical council thus
urged Buddhists and Christians to promote “a healthy relationship between human beings
and the environment,” by enhancing their efforts in promoting “ecological consciousness.”