Ansari said as the human folly continues to propel people towards hate and conflict in many parts of the world, Jesus' eternal message of love and compassion shows people the path to redemption.
"If we were to follow, in letter and spirit, what has been taught by Jesus Christ, we could eliminate war and conflict from this World and thereby establish durable peace which is so essential for progress and prosperity of mankind," he said at the Golden Jubilee of Ecumenical Christian Centre (ECC) and Birth Centenary Celebrations of its Founder-Director Late Rev Dr M A Thomas here.
He said the people of India can never forget the services rendered by the Christian community in the field of education, public health, charitable services and social activities for the uplift of the down-trodden, the poor and needy.
"I am myself a product of a school run by Irish Brothers in Shimla and of a college run by Jesuits in Kolkata," he said.
Talking about ECC, Ansari said it had established itself as an important institution which has rendered invaluable service in the cause of nation building and development.
"Ecumenism, apart from its objective within the denominations of the Christian faith, has a wider meaning pertaining to the promotion of unity among religions based on greater cooperation and improved understanding including on social, economic and political issues concerning humanity," he said.