Pope Francis Makes Surprise Visit to Buddhist Temple
Dear friends around the world,
I have always respected great spiritual masters like Mother Teresa and Saint Francis of Assisi, who went out of their way to reach out to those who need help, regardless of religious and racial differences.
A religion is a pillar that supports and fuels our mental, emotional and spiritual journey. Most religions encourage peace and harmony amongst all living beings and for this reason, we should respect all religions, races, genders, cultures and, in fact, all sentient beings that inhabit this earth.
I deeply rejoice in seeing this article and witnessing Pope Francis’ tremendous respect for another faith. May Pope Francis always abide in good health and continue to benefit many people.
Tsem Rinpoche
Pope Francis Spontaneously Visits Buddhist Temple in Sri Lanka
by Joshua J. McElwee | Jan. 14, 2015
COLOMBO, SRI LANKA – Pope Francis made a spontaneous visit to a Buddhist temple Wednesday afternoon during his two-day visit to this island nation in what appears to be the second such visit by a pope.
Vatican spokesman Jesuit Fr. Federico Lombardi said Francis decided to make the visit after trying to meet with Sri Lanka’s Catholic bishops but finding they had not yet returned to the capital from the day’s visit to the northern Sri Lankan town of Madhu.
The Pope visits this Buddha statue during his visit to Sri Lanka.
“This is the way in which the pope acts,” Lombardi said, laughing lightly before continuing the story: “So then we went to a Buddhist temple because the Buddhists are an important authority.”
Francis, Lombardi said at a press conference Wednesday night, went to the Mahabodhi temple in Colombo, where he met with several Buddhist monks and their chief monk, Banagala Upatissa.
The pope took off his shoes upon entering the temple and went into the center of the space accompanied by the monks, Lombardi said. Together, they saw a statue of the Buddha and then the monks showed the pope a special bell jar that contains religious relics.
The Pope views the relics of the Buddha.
The Pope bows before the Buddha’s relics to show great respect.
The jar, the spokesman said, is normally only opened once a year, but the monks decided to open it to show the pope the relics. While doing so, the monks sang a special song of prayer. The pope, Lombardi said, was “listening with great respect” to the prayer.
The Pope is welcomed by the chief monk of the temple.
Lombardi accompanied the pope during the visit to the temple and was joined by Sri Lankan Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, the bishop who serves as apostolic nuncio to the country, and several others.
While it was not immediately certain that a pope had visited a Buddhist temple before, news reports indicate that Pope John Paul II visited a Buddhist temple during his 1984 visit to Thailand.
People in Sri Lanka have been anticipating the arrival of the Pope.
A Sri Lankan spokesman at the press conference said it was “normal” for Catholic priests to visit Buddhist temples in the country, where an estimated 72 percent of the some 21 million population are Buddhist.
Following his visit to the Buddhists, Lombardi said Francis returned to visit with the Sri Lankan bishops. The pope had planned to meet with the bishops on Tuesday but canceled because his schedule had gone long that day.
Francis also had another expected visit Wednesday evening: with former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa, who had served as president since 2005 but lost his re-election bid on Thursday. Lombardi said that was a private visit so the former leader could have a “personal occasion” with the pope.
The Pope accepts a gift containing Buddha’s relics from the Buddhist temple.
Francis has been visiting Sri Lanka since Tuesday in a two-part Asian voyage that will see him continue on to the Philippines on Thursday.
On Tuesday, the pope had a private state visit with the Sri Lankan president and took part in an interreligious meeting. On Wednesday morning, he led an outdoor Mass with some 500,000 in attendance to canonize Sri Lanka’s first saint, 17th century missionary Oratorian Fr. Joseph Vaz.
A close-up of the gift.
Wednesday afternoon, Francis had been in Madhu, an area about 200 miles north of Colombo that was most impacted by the 1983-2009 Sri Lankan civil war.
Sources:
https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/francis-spontaneously-visits-buddhist-temple-sri-lanka https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2017/04/22/170422c.html
https://ivarfjeld.com/2015/01/18/the-pope-honor-buddha/
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Thank you Rinpoche for sharing with us this heart warming article. Is nice to see others religion leader respect other religion because it promote harmony and peace this is the core practice of all religion in the world.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this interesting post promoting interreligious harmony.
The pope visiting the temple really shows that Pope Francis believes in religious freedom and religious harmony. This type of behaviour shows that Pope Francis is a peaceful man with love and respect for other religions.
I really hope that more people will follow the pope’s example by encouraging religious harmony.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article. It is good to see that all religions are communicating with each other and have good relationships. All religions should have peace and harmony with one another. We should never condemn other people’s religion. We should respect other people’s belief and faith as it is their choice.
With folded palms,
Vivian
Such visits are inspiring and will help to promote peace amongst the adherents of both faiths.
Reminds me a lot of Lama Yeshe who visited St Francis Assisi’s cave, and said the West had their own yogis and practitioners.
A picture of Lama Yeshe outside St Francis Assisi’s cave
https://scontent.fkul4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14440958_10154412360740851_478359959366051636_n.jpg?oh=8c47447ebcbfb0bf581fe599c8d0dee8&oe=59A53E05
Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church, visited a Buddhist temple during his short trip to Sri Lanka recently. His respect for Buddhists and Buddhism shows us the great compassionate mind of a true spiritual leader. Earlier, he had also attended an interreligious meeting. This is the spirit of peace, love and harmony that transcends all religions. Thank you Your Holiness, Pope Francis, for showing the way for all to follow.
The Pope had visited the Mahabodhi temple in Colombo. He had taken off his shoes. The he went in to view the relics and then “listened with great respect” to the prayer that was sung.
All religions promote love, humility and mutual respect for each other. I view the Pope’s visit to the Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka as a very humbling act as it was the Head of the Catholic Church who went there and he even took off his shoes before entering the temple. He displays a great amount of humility.
Thank you.
Lum Kok Luen
在涉及宗教和种族的暴力和流血事件在世界各地频频发生同时造成许多伤亡之际，教宗拜访佛寺显示对其它宗教的的尊重，的确是一股世界正需要的正能量。
无论是宗教领袖、政治或其它领域的领袖，能善用本身的巨大影响力，给身边的社群、社会甚至世界带来正面和积极的影响，正是发挥了作为领袖的真正作用和角色。
事实上，真正获得他人尊重的并不是一位领袖的地位和职权而是他们如何善用了本身的地位和权力，利益更多人。即便本身不在位、不当权了，甚至离开人世了，其影响力仍然存在，人们仍然惦记他们的贡献。权位无法持久，生命也有尽时，然而，真正给人类、社会和世界带来的贡献，却可以是恒久的。
Pope Francis visitation to a Buddhist temple shows us that although people have different faith and religion but we should establish mutual respect for each other. This is the basic value of all religion – to love, respect, compassion, support peace and harmony. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article.
Showing interfaith harmony and respect does not make us any lesser, it only shows that our god has taught us the correct path, to love and respect each other. That’s the real teachings.
When a spiritual leader embraces different faith, they are walking the talk of what the religion stands for in maintaining harmony and world peace. It is instrumental for true religious freedom to take shape and for the adherent to follow suit. The surprise visit by Pope Francis to a Buddhist temple inevitably strengthen the intra-faith mutual respect and understanding between Christianity and Buddhism. I hope one day Dalai Lama will visit Dorje Shugden monastery. In this way, His Holiness will show the adherent the true Buddhist tenets of harmony and acceptance. The act will also reduce the conflict between non-Dorje Shugden and Dorje Shugden people. Thank you, Rinpoche, for sharing this article.
Surprise that someone from a different faith like Pope Francis visited a Buddhait temple on official visit in Sri Lanka.In 1984 Pope John Paul II was the last Pope that had visited.Sri Lanka’s have beautiful cultures and unique traditions ,hence a visit by Pope Francis shows a true leadership and show respect to other cultures and religions.Thats the way should be to create harmony ,peace to the world.Its wonderful as the Pope met with several Buddhist monks and their chief monk at several Buddhist temples dring his visit in Sri Lanka.
Thank You Rinpoche for sharing this post and beautiful pictures of the Pope’s visit.
All Great Leaders whether Spiritual or National will do their utmost to create harmony. Harmony will create peace and prosperity and therefore a contentment among their people.
Pope Francis has shown a great example of religious acceptance among all faiths and also respect on the different religious doctrines. It is very heartwarming to see the photos of his respect to the Buddhist faith.
Just at the back of mind, would H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama visit a Dorje Shugden temple????? That visit will definitely eliminate all the discrimination that are in place among Tibetan Buddhists.
Dear Rinpoche,
During my younger years when I used to go to Church, we were very excited during Chinese New Year because we were often asked to wear red. What surprised me was the great respect that our Priests had when they conducted the mass. Incense was being offered (usually only Buddhist will do that) on that occasion as a remark of respect to our ancestors. I know it’s cultural thing to do but the meaning behind it was great. In that instance, we were instilled the value of respect, gratitude, and we’re being reminded of our root. Just sharing what we have done during those days and this article reminds me of Respecting others faith.
Just like what has been written in the letter, Jesus Christ and Buddha were promoter of Non Violence as well as Peacemakers. Ditto
Thank you Rinpoche.
Remove the human-made veil that prevents pure spirituality from shining through and you will find the universal truth which is love for all sentient beings. This is the only way we heal, the only way earth heals. Thank you Pope Francis for this small but significant gesture.
Pope Francis really shows what it means to have an open mind and show mutual respect for others of a different religion. The fact that he bowed to the relics of the Buddha and listened intently to the prayers being sung, shows that he has much respect for the Buddhist believes.
He is such a pragmatic pope as well, as he made this trip to the Mahabodhi temple and not waste time waiting for the return of the Catholic priest from their rounds.
I think I like this pope very much.