Catholics and Buddhists must strengthen efforts to reject violence in all of its forms as well as to urge and educate people in a life of non-violence, said Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.
"Jesus Christ and the Buddha were promotors of non-violence as well as peacemakers," the cardinal said in a message marking the Buddhist celebration of Vesakh.
"May we actively dedicate ourselves to promoting within our families and social, political, civil and religious institutions a new style of living where violence is rejected and the human person is respected," he said.
