Vatican: Peace education could help Buddhist-Christian conflicts

Published: 2007-04-25

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Conflicts between Buddhists and Christians can be resolved through peace education, said the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. The "sad reality" of continued prejudice and misunderstanding can be overcome by educating people about other faiths and by helping families and schools reinforce the value of peaceful coexistence, the council said in a message to Buddhists preparing for the feast of Vesakh. The feast, which commemorates the principal events in the life of Siddhartha Gautama, Buddhism's founder, is celebrated April 8 in Japan and Taiwan and between May 2 and 31 in other countries. The Vatican released the message, signed by the council's president, Cardinal Paul Poupard, and secretary, Archbishop Pier Luigi Celata, April 25. "Even in places where people experience daily the ravages of war, fueled by sentiments of hatred and vengeance, trust can be restored," the message said.

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