Message from the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue on the occasion of Diwãli.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) – The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue proposes a common action plan involving Hindus and Christians to help the more unfortunate children who are so often "innocent victims of war and violence, inadequate food and water, forced migration and many other forms of injustice in the world."

The proposal is in the message the Council has released on the occasion of Diwãli, the Hindu festival of lights, a celebration based on an ancient mythology that symbolically embodies the victory of truth over falsehood, of light over darkness, of life over death, of good over evil.  Titled 'Collaboration between Hindus and Christians with special reference to children', the message was signed by Mgr Michael L. Fitzgerald, president of the Pontifical Council.

It refers to the celebration by saying: "During these festive days you recall the victory of good over evil. This is symbolized when your homes are lit up by lamps to chase away the darkness of the night. Renewed hope can be seen on many faces; there are signs of great joy in the hearts of many Hindus. And in those who have been weighed down by the preoccupations and worries of daily life there is a renewed determination to begin afresh."

The message goes on to say that "in all religions, the ones who particularly long to see feast days arrive are the little children. Their enthusiasm for taking part in the celebration of a feast is truly striking. It is they who bring boundless joy to the celebration because they enliven the spirit of the adults. Children bring shape and colour, taste and flavour, inspiration and aspiration, hope and promise of perseverance to the celebration."

"You will agree with me," Mgr Fitzgerald writes, "in recognizing that one of the purposes of religious feasts is to make us better human beings. During this season of Diwali, as you strive to overcome darkness through light, evil through goodness and hatred through love, I would like to propose to you, as one of your Christian friends, that we focus our attention on the evils in our society that afflict children: forced labour, forced conscription, breakdown of the family, trafficking in organs and persons, sexual abuse, forced prostitution, AIDS, the sale and use of drugs, etc. What have children done to merit such suffering? Could not the dialogue between Hindus and Christians take concrete form by working together in support of underprivileged children, who are often the innocent victims of war and violence, inadequate food and water, forced migration and the many forms of injustice present in today's world? I am fully aware that such cooperation between the followers of our two religious traditions already exists, but we could and should do more, as the problem is serious, indeed it is tragic. Your suggestions as to what could be done to give children their rightful place in society would be most welcome. Our children are our future; they are the future of humanity. (FP)

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