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DATE: April 2, 2005
The Hindu American Foundation
expresses sadness over the death of Pope John Paul II, head
of the Roman Catholic Church. In an age of declining spirituality,
the Pope was a beacon of piety not only to Catholics but to
people of all faiths across the globe. During his papal reign,
he inspired many to commit their lives to social service by
providing education and healthcare to the underprivileged.
"The Pope was a man
of true peace and justice," said Pawan Deshpande, member
of the Hindu American Foundation Executive Council. "His
strong commitment to human rights, democracy and interreligious
dialogue will not be forgotten." In Colombo, Sri Lanka,
on January 21, 1995, Pope John Paul II stated, "The Catholic
Church has been fully committed to pursuing the path of dialogue
and cooperation with the members of other religions. Interreligious
dialogue is a precious means by which the followers of the
various religions discover shared points of contact in the
spiritual life, while acknowledging the differences which
exist between them."
HAF hopes that those inspired
by Pope John Paul II's legacy will heed his call for interfaith
dialogue and cooperation in order to create a more peaceful,
just, tolerant, pluralistic, and equitable world.
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