“As believers rooted in our respective faith traditions, and as people united by shared values and a common concern for peace, may we, Hindus and Christians, together with those of other religions and all people of goodwill, join hands in both small and great ways to nurture peace in our homes, communities, and societies.”
This heartfelt appeal forms the core of the Vatican’s Deepavali message from the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue to the Hindu community celebrating the festival of lights on October 20, 2025, Vatican News reported.
The message, titled “Hindus and Christians: Building World Peace through Dialogue and Collaboration in the Spirit of Nostra Aetate,” was signed by Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, Prefect of the Dicastery, and Msgr. Indunil Janakaratne Kodithuwakku Kankanamalage, Secretary.
The Vatican leaders extended warm greetings, wishing that Deepavali, which celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil, “brighten your lives and bring happiness, unity, and peace to your families and communities.”
They noted that this year’s festival coincides closely with the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the landmark 1965 declaration of the Second Vatican Council that urged dialogue and collaboration among people of different religions. As Vatican News highlighted, Cardinal Koovakad called the jubilee “a moment to renew our commitment to dialogue as a path to peace.”
The message also emphasized the growing need for interreligious dialogue in a world marked by “mistrust, polarization, tensions, and divisions.” The Vatican officials urged believers to continue sowing “seeds of unity and harmony,” calling interfaith cooperation “a beacon of hope for all.”
Quoting the Holy Father, they stressed that fostering a culture of dialogue is “a task entrusted to all, believers and non-believers alike, who must advance it through reflection and actions inspired by the dignity of the human person and the common good.”
The Dicastery also underlined the vital roles of families, faith communities, educators, and the media in nurturing peace and respect for diversity. Religious leaders, it said, have a “moral duty to lead by example” and promote friendship and fraternity among followers.
The message concludes with an invitation for Christians and Hindus to “join hands in both small and great ways” to build peace in today’s world.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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