Image
Photo: Xanthi Morfi/WCC

Photo: Xanthi Morfi/WCC

In a letter to Buddhist friends, World Council of Churches (WCC) acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca sent cordial greetings of peace and joy for Vesak. “May this be a truly blessed time for you, your families and your communities,” wrote Sauca.

The greetings focused on the role of faith communities in the midst of COVID-19. “We are all going through an unprecedented situation at present due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”  The human dimensions of the crisis can be felt in the day to day reality of the loss of family members, the inability to attend the last rites of loved ones and the increased uncertainties over basic human needs such as food, shelter and livelihood, Sauca reflected. “Tragically the escalation of the pandemic has also meant the escalation of prejudice in different parts of the world,” he wrote.

A time such as this requires all people of faith and goodwill to come together and  say no to any hate-mongering, the letter continues. “Drawing from our respective spiritual traditions, let us encourage our communities to redouble their efforts towards spreading love in thought and action and thereby open new possibilities for healing and hope” Sauca wrote.

 

Vesak 2020 - Letter of the WCC acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca