The Vatican has published a message on the occasion of Vesak, one of the main celebrations of Buddhism, following the line of interreligious dialogue promoted for decades by the Holy See and especially reinforced during the last pontificates. The text, disseminated by the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue and signed by Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, proposes to Buddhists and Christians to work together for a “disarmed and disarming” peace.
The message, which combines Gospel quotes with Buddhist texts, emphasizes concepts such as universal fraternity, reconciliation, and collaboration between religions in the face of contemporary world conflicts.
We leave below the message published by the Dicastery:
Dear Buddhist Friends,
As in previous years, we are pleased to extend our most sincere greetings and best wishes on the joyful celebration of Vesak. This solemn Feast—which commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and passing of the Buddha—is an invitation to renew the path of wisdom, compassion, and peace.
Peace is not simply the absence of war, but a gift that seeks to dwell in the human heart: a silent but powerful presence that illuminates and transforms. In fact, as Pope Leo XIV pointed out, “Peace exists, it wants to dwell in us, it has the gentle power to illuminate and broaden the intelligence, it resists violence and overcomes it. Peace has the breath of the eternal; while to evil one shouts ‘enough,’ to peace one whispers ‘forever’” (Message for the 59th World Day of Peace, January 1, 2026). Even when it seems fragile—like a small flame threatened by storms of hatred and fear—peace must be protected and cultivated. This is the peace to which we are called: a disarmed and disarming peace, which is not based on force, but springs from truth, compassion, and mutual trust.
However, in our time we cannot ignore the shadows that weigh on the world. Wars, violence, growing ethno-religious nationalism, and the instrumentalization of religion continue to wound our common humanity. In a world that seems increasingly fragile and sometimes marked by a troubling sense of regression, the call to peace becomes ever more urgent. It is here that our spiritual traditions can offer a vital contribution. Kindness is truly disarming; it breaks the cycle of suspicions and opens paths where it seemed impossible. In its most authentic expression, our traditions invite us to purify our hearts of hostility, to cross borders, and to recognize ourselves as members of a single human family.
From this perspective, the teachings of the Buddha offer an illuminating path. The Buddha teaches: “For hatred is not conquered by hatred: hatred is conquered by love. This is an eternal law” (Dhammapada 5). And again: “Let no one deceive or despise anyone […] Let no one wish harm to anyone, Whether in anger or in reacting with hatred” (Sutta Nipata 1.8 – Metta Sutta). For Christians, Jesus calls his disciples to “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44) and proclaims: “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9). Both traditions converge in pointing toward a peace that is lived—one that disarms hearts before hands.
Such a path requires more than mere words; it demands a change of attitude and a commitment to concrete actions. Religious leaders are called to be authentic interlocutors in dialogue and true architects of reconciliation. Together with all believers, we are invited to become artisans of peace: not as passive observers, but as courageous witnesses capable of facilitating encounters, healing wounds, and rebuilding trust.
As citizens and believers, we share the responsibility to promote peace, confront injustice, and urge those in power not to fuel divisions, but to seek dialogue instead of confrontation. Likewise, we must avoid becoming complicit through silence or fear. Every community is therefore called to grow as a place where hostility is overcome through encounter, where justice is practiced, and forgiveness is safeguarded as a treasure.
Cultivating a disarmed and disarming peace also means nourishing its deepest sources: prayer, contemplation, and interior transformation. It is a peace that is lived daily: in gestures of kindness, in patience, in the rejection of hatred and revenge, and in the courage to have hope. For peace is not an illusion or a distant ideal; it is a real possibility, already within our reach, waiting to be welcomed and shared.
In this spirit, we renew our hope that, through our common commitment, Buddhists and Christians may become ever more witnesses to this disarming peace, a peace that heals wounds, mends relationships, and opens new horizons for humanity.
May your celebration of Vesak be filled with serenity and joy, and may it inspire us all to walk this path together.
We wish you a Vesak celebration rich in blessings and fruitful!