VATICAN (CWNews.com) As the world's Hindus prepared to celebrate their religious festival of Diwali on November 7, Cardinal Francis Arinze-the president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue-issued a message to Hindus, promising that Catholics would work with them "for the good of all."
Cardinal Arinze wrote: "We Christians and Hindus must reflect together, to find answers to the challenges that face humanity." The Christian Jubilee, he continued, offers "a propitious occasion for reflecting together on the pilgrimage of the human family, and for safeguarding the future of peace and solidarity among peoples."
"It is important to be more and more conscious of our responsibilities," the Nigerian-born cardinal wrote. Working together, he said, Christians and Hindus could spread "a message of hope for future generations."
The three-day Hindu festival of Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness. It also marks the beginning of the new year on the Hindu calendar. There are approximately 800 million Hindus in the world, nearly all of them living in India or nearby Nepal and Bangladesh.
Catholic World News