Full text of message for feast of Vesakh/Hanamatsuri
Below is the full text of the message for the Feast of Vesakh/Hanamatsuri from the
President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogueentitled "Seeking
Truth in Freedom: Christians and Buddhists live in Peace"
Dear Buddhist Friends,
1. On
behalf of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue I am happy once again
to offer heartfelt good wishes to all of you on the occasion of Vesakh/Hanamatsuri.
I pray that this annual feast may bring serenity and joy to Buddhists throughout the
world. 2. In the light of an exchange of mutual friendship, as in the past, I would
like to share with you some of our convictions in the hope of strengthening relations
between our communities. My thoughts turn first to the relationship between peace,
truth and freedom. In the pursuit of authentic peace, a commitment to seek truth is
a necessary condition. All persons have a natural duty to seek truth, to follow it
and freely to live their lives in accordance with it (Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical
Council, Declaration on Religious Freedom Dignitatis Humanae, no. 1). This human
striving for truth offers a fruitful opportunity for the followers of the different
religions to encounter one another in depth and to grow in appreciation of the gifts
of each. 3. In today’s world, marked by forms of secularism and fundamentalism
that are often inimical to true freedom and spiritual values, interreligious dialogue
can be the alternative choice by which we find the “golden way” to live in peace and
work together for the good of all. As Pope Benedict XVI has said, “for the Church,
dialogue between the followers of the different religions represents an important
means of cooperating with all religious communities for the common good” (, no. 11).
Such dialogue is also a powerful stimulus to respect for the fundamental human rights
of freedom of conscience and freedom of worship. Wherever religious freedom is effectively
acknowledged, the dignity of the human person is respected at its root; by the sincere
search for what is true and good, moral conscience and civil institutions are strengthened;
and justice and peace are firmly established (Cf. ibid., no. 5). 4. Dear
Buddhist friends, we pray that your celebration of Vesakh will be a source
of spiritual enrichment and an occasion to take up anew the quest of truth and goodness,
to show compassion to all who suffer, and to strive to live together in harmony.
Once again allow us to express our cordial greetings and to wish all of you a Happy
Feast of Vesakh/Hanamatsuri.
Jean-Louis Cardinal Tauran Archbishop
Pier Luigi Celata President Secretary