Posted on 11/03/2026 12:31:53 PM PST by ebb tide
The Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue (DID) under Pope Leo XIV on Friday published a special message to Hindus ahead of their Diwali holiday next week, stressing the Vatican’s commitment to peace “in the spirit of Assisi.”
In its October 30 message, published the day before Allhallowtide and signed by Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad and Monsignor Indunil Janakaratne Kodithuwakku Kankanamalage – prefect and secretary of the DID, respectively – the dicastery offered its “warmest prayerful and festive wishes” to Hindus who will celebrate the Diwali “festival of lights.” The dicastery also emphasized its commitment to fraternity and interreligious peace “in the spirit of Assisi.”
“The Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue extends its warmest prayerful and festive wishes to you as you celebrate Deepavali on 8 November this year. May God, the fount of all that is good, bless you, your families, loved ones and communities with abundant joy, peace and prosperity!” the message stated.
The dicastery highlighted how just over 40 years ago the first Assisi “World Day of Prayer for Peace” took place, calling it “a historic encounter, in which people of various religions came together to pray, convinced that religions and interreligious solidarity can help address global crises and promote peace.” They added that Pope John Paul II called this the “spirit of Assisi.”
“In the face of the many challenges facing humanity today, especially those arising from wars, conflicts, and the use of religion for political ends, the commemoration of the 1986 Assisi gathering offers us the opportunity to reflect with you on how Hindus and Christians can forge pathways of peace together, drawing inspiration from the spirit of Assisi,” the dicastery wrote.
READ: Leo XIV omits mention of Christ at Assisi, says ‘peace’ must be man’s ‘guiding star’
“One such pathway is to come together to pray with a shared spiritual commitment to peace, each according to his or her own religious tradition, while respecting that of the other. Indeed, genuine prayer overcomes differences and disarms hearts, minds and lives, transforming us into men and women of compassion and peace,” it added.
Contrary to the tone of the dicastery’s message, the Catholic Church teaches that it is the one true Church founded by Our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the one true God. Sacred Scripture also states that the “gods” worshipped by members of false religions are “devils.”
Furthermore, the DID’s message implies that true peace can be achieved through interreligious dialogue, whereas the perennial teaching of the Church is that true peace is achieved through Christ alone.
The message came within a week of the Vatican’s international ecumenical meeting commemorating the 40th anniversary of the first interfaith “World Day of Prayer for Peace” in Assisi.
During that meeting, the female Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, scandalously processed and offered prayers alongside Catholic Cardinals Kurt Koch, president of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, and Matteo Zuppi, ecclesiastical assistant to the Community of Sant’Egidio. In another scandal, the meeting also included a Jewish rabbi who told Vatican News that “God can be found outside the Catholic Church.”
READ: Rabbi at Assisi event: ‘God can be found outside the Catholic Church’
Perhaps worst of all, in a video address to the meeting, Pope Leo also avoided speaking about the need to evangelize the world and instead focused on a supposed need for dialogue, seemingly among equals.
“The world needs dialogue,” Leo said. “The path of Assisi calls religious leaders to foster a climate of dialogue amongst the faithful and within society, so that the language of arrogance may give way to the language of peace, negotiation and understanding. This will help to “gradually (lead) humanity away from the cycle of violence.”
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Perhaps worst of all, in a video address to the meeting, Pope Leo also avoided speaking about the need to evangelize the world and instead focused on a supposed need for dialogue, seemingly among equals.
Ping
Romans 5:1: “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
If Leo wants to bring peace to the Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs, point them to Jesus. He could start by quoting Paul’s speech in Athens, Acts 17:16-34.
DiBeaver probably feels left out. 🦫
The smoke of Satan is strong with this one.
It is said that Assisi once wandered into a festival, and noticed people singing and dancing. He asked what was going on. They said, it is to praise so-and-so, who has blessed us with this-and-that. “Oh how wonderful, may I join?” So he took his turn and said, “Praise and thanks to so-and-so, and to God who made him.”
The message should be “enjoy covering yourselves with the sh*t from your worshipped cows!” Yeah, our “equals”.
I may not be reading this crowd wrong but I’m not hearing too many happy Diwali greetings to your Hindu friends from the Catholics. You must heed the Popes words on the matter. He is your Shepard.
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