Pope Francis receives Buddhist monks at the Vatican

This morning, in the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican, Pope Francis received in audience a delegation of Buddhist monks from Thailand, whom he asked to collaborate to build “a more inclusive world.”

At the beginning of his speech, the Holy Father assured that it has been “a great joy” to develop the Seventh Buddhist-Christian Colloquium, held in Thailand last November, which brought together more than 150 participants from various parts of Asia “in dialogue.” to heal a wounded humanity and the Earth.”

“Yes, today our humanity and the Earth, our common home, are wounded. So many wars, so many people who have lost everything, forced to flee. “So many children affected by violence,” he lamented.

Pope Francis also highlighted that during the Colloquium three fundamental points were emphasized: “First of all, they said that ‘no one is saved alone; We can only save ourselves together, since we are interconnected and interdependent.’”

The Pontiff therefore urged them “to collaborate with everyone: civil society, members of other religions, governments, international organizations, academic and scientific communities and all other interested parties to promote a friendship that sustains peace and fraternity and build a more inclusive world.”

Secondly, he highlighted the importance of educating each person, “especially young people and children, in relationships of care and concern for others and for the environment.”

Finally, he stated that prayer and meditation “can change things, purifying our hearts and our minds.”

“I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the kind gesture of coming to the Vatican and I encourage you to continue reviving dialogue and collaboration, especially with the Catholic Church of Thailand, in a spirit of constant friendship,” Pope Francis concluded.