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Pope sends Buddhists a Vesak message

Dialogues between religions is important for the common good
Pope sends Buddhists a Vesak message
Archbishop Hyginus Kim Hee-joong and Venerable Beopman ring a bell in the temple
Published: May 03, 2011 07:58 AM GMT
Updated: May 03, 2011 10:57 AM GMT

An archbishop delivered a congratulatory message from the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue to Buddhists in South Korea to mark Vesak, the most important Buddhist festivity. Archbishop Hyginus Kim Hee-joong, president of the Korean bishops' Committee for Promoting Christian Unity and Interreligious Dialogue visited Seonunsa temple, in Jeollabuk-do province, yesterday to deliver the Vatican message with the Bible and a picture, ‘the Last Supper.’ The message, made public in March, quotes Pope Benedict XVI as saying; “For the Church, dialogue between the followers of the different religions represents an important means of cooperating with all religious communities for the common good.” Venerable Beopman, head monk of the temple which was built in 577, gave a tea set to Archbishop Kim in return. Archbishop Kim said: “Catholicism and Buddhism should cooperate each other for good relationship.” Venerable Beopman replied: “Let's continue the good relationship to respect, communicate and cooperate each other.” Then the two religious leaders held a bell-tolling ceremony to show peace and harmony between the two religions. Some 20 nuns and Father John Song Yong-min, secretary of the committee accompanied Archbishop Kim. Archbishop Kim who is also a member of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the president of the Korean Conference on Religion and Peace has visited Buddhist temples annually to mark the Buddha´s Birthday which is commemorated on May 10 in Korea, China, Taiwan, Vietnam and Singapore and on May 17 in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos. Also yesterday, Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk of Seoul delivered a congratulatory message to Buddhists, saying “sharing and ascetic practice should be taken root in Korean society.” Related report Archbishop Kim chosen to lead KCRP KO14077

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