By C K George , Former PTI Reporter
Thrissur: The Vatican’s (Holy See’s) Dicastery for Interreligious Dialoguehas issued Deepavali greetings on October 31,2024.
It was jointly signed by the Prefect, Cardinal Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot and Secretary Msgr. Indunil Janakaratne Kodithuwakku Kankanamalage. The greetings wished the “most joyful and prayerful Deepavali, the festival of lights, on October 31.”
The greetings stressed the need for promoting harmony between Hindus and Christians amid diversity and despite differences. According to the United Nations Fund for Population Activities 2024 report , the total population of India is 144.17 crore of which 79.5 per cent constituted Hindus.
This was perhaps the first time that the Vatican issued Deepavali greetings.
“May God, the source of light, fill your minds and hearts with peace and joy, and your families and communities with grace and happiness”, it said.
More than ever our cities and countries are increasingly becoming diverse. People of different cultures, religions, ethnicities, languages and ideologies live side by side, either by choice or chance, in almost every part of the globe. The diversity is viewed by most as a great source of mutual growth, learning and enrichment. At the same time, it is also rejected in some parts of the world because it is seen as a potential threat to harmony, even leading to conflict. Concerned as we are over this matter , we would like to share with you some thoughts on how both Christians and Hindus can promote harmony amidst diversity and despite differences, it added.
Throughout history human beings have always experienced difficulties living in harmony. Indeed this has been the case whenever there is diversity and differences among peoples, resulting sometimes in displays of both hostile and subtle resistance. Diversity , therefore, invites efforts to build harmony. Moreover, seeds of harmony can be sowed and harvested only through “respect for diversity by offering opportunities for advancement and social integration to all”.
As believers grounded in our own respective religious traditions and as persons with shared commitment to strengthening harmonious coexistence in society, may we, Christians and Hindus , join hands with the people of other religious traditions and with people of good will, do all that we can do to promote harmony amidst diversity and despite differences “with a sense of responsibility and in a spirit of fraternity and inclusiveness” quoted in the greetings as Pope Francis Francis as saying.
