Vatican says Christians, Buddhists should work jointly on environment

Published: 2008-04-29

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Christians and Buddhists should work together to promote respect for the earth and a safe, clean environment, said the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. In a message for the feast of Vesakh, a commemoration of the major events in the life of Buddha, the Vatican council urged Christians and Buddhists to work together to contribute to the public debate concerning climate change and sustainable development. The Vatican released the message April 29 as many Buddhist communities were preparing to celebrate Vesakh May 12-18. The message, signed by the council's president, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, and secretary, Archbishop Pier Luigi Celata, said Christian and Buddhist traditions respect creation and "have a common concern to promote care for the environment which we all share." All people should be concerned with the future of the planet including "matters of grave concern" such as climate change, environmental preservation and sustainable development, it said.

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