Dalai Lama Endorses Pope Leo’s Palm Sunday Peace Appeal

The Dalai Lama has expressed strong support for Pope Leo’s recent call for peace, affirming the Holy Father’s appeal for an end to violence and a renewed commitment to compassion and dialogue among nations and peoples.

In a message dated March 31, 2026, the Tibetan spiritual leader said he “wholeheartedly” endorses the Pope’s appeal made during the Palm Sunday Mass, particularly the call for laying down arms and renouncing violence. He noted that the message resonates deeply with him because it reflects the core teachings shared by the world’s major religions.

“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,” the Dalai Lama said.

He emphasized that violence has no place in authentic religious teaching and warned that history has repeatedly shown how violence only leads to further suffering. “Violence only begets more violence and is never a lasting foundation for peace,” he said.

The Dalai Lama also addressed ongoing global conflicts, including those in the Middle East and between Russia and Ukraine, calling for solutions rooted in dialogue, diplomacy, and mutual respect. He stressed that lasting peace can only be achieved when people recognize their shared humanity.

“At the deepest level, we are all brothers and sisters,” he said, urging leaders and communities alike to adopt this perspective in addressing conflict.

The message concludes with a prayerful appeal for an end to violence worldwide. “I urge and pray that the violence and conflicts may soon come to an end,” he said.

The Dalai Lama’s statement adds a significant interreligious voice to Pope Leo’s Palm Sunday message, highlighting a shared moral consensus across faith traditions on the urgent need for peace, reconciliation, and nonviolence in a world marked by ongoing tensions and war.

The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism and a globally respected advocate for peace, nonviolence, and interreligious dialogue. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, he has consistently promoted compassion and ethical responsibility as the foundation for a more harmonious world.