THE Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue extends to all Hindu Friends its most cordial greetings on the occasion of Deepavali which falls on Nov 4, that the observance of this festival of lights in the midst of anxiety and uncertainty arising from the present pandemic light up their lives, homes and communities with the hope for a better future.
As believers grounded in our own respective religious traditions and as persons with shared vision for and shared responsibility towards humanity, in particular the suffering humanity, may we Christians and Hindus, individually and collectively, and joining hands with people of other religious traditions and of good will, reach out to people who are in despair, to bring light into their lives!
Fraternity, according to Pope Francis, “is the true cure for the pandemic and the many evils that have affected us” (Address to the Members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See, 8 February, 2021). Being responsible for one another inter-religiously is a sure means of strengthening solidarity and fraternity among us, and bringing succour to the afflicted and hope to the distressed.
It is incumbent upon religious and community leaders to nurture the spirit of fraternity among their followers with a view to helping them walk and work together with the people of other religious traditions, most especially during crisis and calamity of every kind.
