The Vatican has greeted Hindus around the world on the upcoming Diwali festival, appealing to them and Christians to foster relationships for the good of all humanity through friendship and solidarity.
"In a spirit of friendship, the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue extends to you best wishes and cordial greetings as you celebrate Deepavali," Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, said.
Diwali, the festival of Lights, will be celebrated on Sunday around the world and marks the victory of good over evil.
"May God, the source of all light and life, illumine your lives and deepen your happiness and peace," he said in a statement yesterday.
The Cardinal stressed that relationships are fundamental to human existence.
He lamented that individualistic tendencies engender a false sense of security and favour what Pope Francis has described as 'a culture of exclusion', 'a throwaway culture' and 'a globalisation of indifference'.
May the Hindus and Christians, work individually and collectively, with all religious traditions and people of good will, to foster and strengthen the human family through friendship and solidarity, the message concluded.
