When the Pope quoted Gautam Buddha to speak about non secular fundamentalism

Calling himself one of many “humble heirs” of historical colleges of knowledge and quoting the Buddha, Pope Francis on Sunday urged all religions to stay in concord and shun ideological fundamentalism that foments violence.

Francis was talking at an inter-religious assembly within the Mongolian capital and sharing the stage in an theatre with a dozen different non secular representatives – the kind of gathering that Francis’ conservative critics have assailed previously.

The main function of the pope’s go to to Mongolia is to fulfill the nation’s tiny Catholic group, at 1,450 members one of many world’s smallest. He is because of say a Mass for them afterward Sunday.

Mongolia borders with China and the pope has additionally used journey to ship an obvious message to Beijing, which has troublesome relations with the Vatican, that governments don’t have anything to worry from the Catholic Church as a result of it has no political agenda.

Since he began the journey, Francis has praised non secular freedom in Mongolia, which was severely repressed whereas the nation was within the Soviet Union’s sphere of affect – a reality talked about by one of many Buddhist leaders who addressed him.

“Religions are called to offer the world this harmony, which technological progress alone cannot bestow,” Francis mentioned after listening to addresses from leaders representing Mongolian Buddhists, Muslims, Evangelicals, Jews, Orthodox, Mormans, Hindus, Shintos, Bahais, and Shamans.

“Brothers and sisters, today we are meeting together as the humble heirs of ancient schools of wisdom. In our encounter with one another, we want to share the great treasure we have received, for the sake of enriching a humanity so often led astray on its journey by the myopic pursuit of profit and material comfort,” he mentioned.

Francis quoted from a writings of the Buddha that claims “the wise man rejoices in giving”, noting it was much like Jesus’ saying “It is more blessed to give than to receive”.

Conservative Catholics, comparable to Bishop Athanasius Schneider of Kazakhstan, have lambasted the pope for even attending such gatherings, calling them “a supermarket of religions” that diminishes the standing of the Catholic Church.

But the pope repeated on Sunday that he put nice significance in “ecumenical, inter-religious and cultural dialogue”. He mentioned dialogue didn’t imply “to gloss over difference” however to hunt understanding and enrichment.

He condemned “narrowness, unilateral imposition, fundamentalism and ideological constraint”, saying they destroy fraternity, gasoline tensions and compromise peace.

“There can be no mixing, then, of religious beliefs and violence, of holiness and oppression, of religious traditions and sectarianism,” Francis mentioned.

Several of the leaders, together with the Jewish consultant Yair Jacob Porat, and the shaman, imparted a particular blessing from their religions on the pope, wishing him well being and a protracted life.

There are solely a handful of everlasting Jewish residents in Mongolia, with the group ministering principally to vacationers and enterprise travellers.

Published On:

Sep 3, 2023