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Dalai Lama Joins Pope Leo XIV in Urgent Global Call for Peace
Amidst the shadows of escalating global conflict, the Dalai Lama supports Pope Leo XIV as one of the world's most prominent spiritual leaders against violence. On March 31, the Dalai Lama, age 90, the spiritual leader and head of Buddhism, issued a powerful endorsement of Pope Leo XIV’s Palm Sunday appeal. The 14th Dalai Lama urged nations to abandon the path of war and return to the "essence" of religious teaching: compassion and dialogue. Pope Leo XIV, received criticism, for quoting this bible passage in Isaiah, on Palm Sunday:
"Brothers and sisters, this is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war. He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying: “Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood” (Is 1:15).
The Dalai Lama wrote on X: @DalaiLama "MESSAGE I wholeheartedly endorse the powerful appeal for peace made by the Holy Father, Pope Leo, during his Palm Sunday Mass. His call for the laying down of arms and the renunciation of violence resonated profoundly with me, as it speaks to the very essence of what all major religions teach. Indeed, whether we look to Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism or any of the world's great spiritual traditions, the message is fundamentally the same: love, compassion, tolerance, and self-discipline. Violence finds no true home in any of these teachings. History has shown us time and again that violence only begets more violence and is never a lasting foundation for peace. An enduring resolution to conflict, including the ones we see in the Middle East or between Russia and Ukraine, must be rooted in dialogue, diplomacy and mutual respect — approached with the understanding that, at the deepest level, we are all brothers and sisters. I urge for and pray that the violence and conflicts may soon come to an end."
A Cry from the Cross
During his Palm Sunday homily at St. Peter’s Square on March 29, Pope Leo XIV delivered a searing indictment of modern warfare. Proclaiming that Jesus, the "King of Peace," rejects all justifications for violence, the Pope spoke of a "crucified humanity" suffering across the globe.
"Christ cries out again from his cross: God is love! Have mercy! Lay down your weapons! Remember that you are brothers and sisters." — Pope Leo XIV
The Pope emphasized that the suffering seen today—from the sick and lonely to those crushed by military aggression—is mirrored in the cry of Christ. He reminded the faithful that no religion can be used to justify the "expanding wreckage" of war.
The Dalai Lama’s Endorsement
Responding to the Vatican's message, the Dalai Lama voiced his "wholehearted" support, noting that the Pope’s call for the renunciation of violence resonates with the core tenets of Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, and Christianity alike.
Key points from the Dalai Lama’s statement:
Universal Message: Love, tolerance, and self-discipline are the foundations of all great spiritual traditions.
Futile Violence: History proves that violence only begets more violence; it cannot serve as a foundation for lasting peace.
The Path Forward: Resolutions to conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine must be rooted in dialogue, diplomacy, and mutual respect.
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