Christians and Sikhs: To promote a culture of tenderness

MESSAGE FOR GURU NANAK PRAKASH DIWAS 2018

Dear Sikh Friends,

The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue greets you all with warm felicitations and good wishes as you celebrate Sri Guru Nanak Prakash Diwas, this year, on 23 November. May your festivities marking this feast renew and reinvigorate the bonds of mutual respect and love in your families and communities, so also enhance – among you – happiness, harmony and peace!

Our cherished tradition of sharing with you some thoughts on this occasion draws your kind attention, this year, towards nurturing and promoting a culture of tenderness, since a culture of self-centredness and indifference towards one another seems to be taking root almost everywhere. An alarming rise, moreover, in the number of people in our neighbourhoods and townships who feel unloved and uncared for is indicative of a tenderness index at an all-time low across the globe. Our reflection, therefore, also focuses on how we, both Christians and Sikhs, can advance the culture of tenderness for the wellbeing of all human beings. 

‘Tenderness’, as experienced and explained commonly, is a gesture on one’s part that displays kindness and gentleness, care and concern towards the other. It is a display of the ability of the humans to feel with and feel for others. It is heartily looking at, listening to, being with and comforting others especially the most vulnerable of the society and doing everything possible, even taking risks, for their welfare. Pope Francis loves to describe it as “a movement that starts from our heart and reaches the eyes, the ears and the hand” (Video Talk, TED Conference, Vancouver, Canada, 25 April, 2017). 

The foundation of ‘tenderness’ is, undoubtedly, God Himself who is ‘infinite tenderness’. However, we experience the divine tenderness, care and providence in times of need mostly through human instrumentality, as though it were God’s most preferred route. Thus, being needy ourselves of tenderness from God and others and being members of one human family we need today in our world what the Holy Father calls a “revolution of tenderness” (Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, Apostolic Exhortation, 2013, no. 88) spearheaded through genuine gestures of care and concrete actions of compassion towards our brothers and sisters, specially the poor, the weak, the sick, the elderly, the disabled and the migrants, no matter which religious traditions they belong to. The greater ‘tenderness’ manifests itself in our words and deeds, the better can the culture of tenderness spread its roots far and wide.  This tenderness must also extend to the whole of creation because caring for the earth and caring for one another go hand in hand; non-caring for the nature would amount to non-caring of human beings and vice versa (Cf. Pope Francis, Message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, 1 Sept. 2016, no. 1).  

The formation in ‘tenderness’ evidently must begin in the families themselves where children, led by the example of parents and elders learn to show love, care and concern for others, particularly the weak and the needy, serving them and being of support to them. Religious teachings, educational institutions and means of social communications all definitely play a vital role in inculcating among practitioners of religions, students and the other citizens altruistic, benevolent and respectful behaviour towards others. If such a life pattern is adopted by adherents of every religion, there is bound to be greater harmony and peace in our world. Nurturing the ‘culture of tenderness’ can thus be the new model even for interreligious engagements and joint achievements, and for building a better world through a shared vision and a common action. 

Both of our religions believe in the Fatherhood of God and Brotherhood of all human beings. Living by these religious convictions and encouraging others to live by the same, may we Christians and Sikhs, joining hands with believers of other religious traditions and all people of good will, do all we can, in humility and human solidarity to promote a ‘culture of tenderness’ for the wellbeing of every human being and for the welfare of the entire created world!

Wish you all, once again, a joyous and serene Prakash Diwas of Guru Nanak Dev Ji!         

                                        Bishop Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, MCCJ

                                        Secretary

Message FOR GURU NANAK PRAKASH DIWAS 2017

 Christians and Sikhs: To Promote Education towards Universal Fraternity

Dear Sikh Friends,

     From the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, with great joy, we offer our most auspicious festal greetings to you on the occasion of Guru Nanak Prakash Diwas, celebrated this year on the 4^th of November. May all your celebrations marking this holy feast strengthen the spirit of belonging and the bond of unity in your families and communities and thereby enhance peace and happiness among you. 

This year our cherished practice of sharing with you a few thoughts on this occasion focuses on how we, both Christians and Sikhs can promote education towards universal fraternity. This theme, while assuming great relevance and significance in the present day global context of disturbingly growing apathy, indifference, intolerance, hatred and violence, also calls for making greater efforts on our part towards promotion of universal fraternity. 

 More than ever now it is being felt across the globe that universal fraternity as the foundational principle, upon which the edifice of life of humans as individuals and communities must be raised, needs new expressions. Because we are all related to one another as children of God, ensuring education about universal relationality of humans and our responsibility towards one another, as well as, the cosmos, acquires a great importance for our times in order to advance the wellbeing and care of all persons. Echoing this need, Pope Francis unequivocally pointed out that “The common home of all men and women must continue to rise on the foundations of a right understanding of universal fraternity and respect for the sacredness of every human life, of every man and every woman, ….(and) of created nature” (Address to the UN General Assembly, 25 Sept. 2015).   

But unfortunately, ignorance and bias, greed and selfishness of some continue to create a situation where the ‘other’ tends to be treated as an inferior, a nonperson, or someone to be feared or even eliminated. These destabilise, damage and destroy the bonds of fraternity and fellowship. 

Promotion of education towards universal fraternity, therefore, requires a prime focus, a renewed fervour and a new expression in shaping mind-sets and educating persons at all levels, starting with the family, the “wellspring of all fraternity” (Pope Francis, Message for the World Day of Peace, 2014). It is in the family that children, led by the example of their parents and other elders begin first to learn to respect, love and care for others; to accept the differences; to be sympathetic towards the less fortunate and to love and care for nature. Educational institutions, religious teachings, the media, Governmental and non-Governmental agencies too have a prominent role to play in inculcating this value among the masses.  Interreligious dialogue and action, of course, play a pivotal role in generating peace, harmony and fraternity among people of diverse religious traditions. 

As believers grounded in our own respective religious traditions and as persons with shared belief that the Fatherhood of God is the foundation of fraternity amongst us, may we, Christians and Sikhs, together with other believers and people of good will, rediscovering our connectedness with and responsibility towards one another and nature, promote, individually and collectively, education towards universal fraternity. Education towards universal fraternity, according to Pope Francis, is nothing but education for peace itself in the complimentarity of diverse sensitivities and of proper roles (cf. Address to Participants in the Plenary Session of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, 9 June, 2017).  

Wish you all, once again, a happy Prakash Diwas of Guru Nanak Dev Ji!

Jean-Louis Cardinal Tauran
President

Bishop Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, M.C.C.J.
Secretary

Messages for the Feast of Guru Nanak Prakash Diwas 2016
Christians and Sikhs: To promote a culture of solidarity and sharing

Dear Sikh Friends,
The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue sends you its fraternal
greetings and festal felicitations as you celebrate Guru Nanak Prakash Diwas on 14th
November this year. May the festivities of this most religiously significant day
enhance peace, happiness and unity in your homes and communities!
In keeping with our healthy tradition, we wish to share with you on this
occasion a few reflections on how we, both Christians and Sikhs can promote ‘a
culture of solidarity and sharing’ to overcome the ‘culture selfishness and
indifference’. The steadily growing individualistic, egoistic and intemperate
tendencies among the humans in this era of globalization are gravely affecting the
culture of our living together with equality, justice and peace. They, more and more,
render humans immune and “incapable of feeling compassion at the outcry of the
poor, weeping for other people’s pain and feeling the need to help them” (Pope
Francis, Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, 2013, no. 54).
Amidst human sufferings due to hunger, disease, oppression, exploitation,
marginalization, forced migration, war and violence in many parts of the world, there
have been attempts, at various levels, to bring about solace and succour, healing and
development to the affected and the afflicted. But a great deal is still required both to
mitigate the sufferings of people and to root out their causes in order for solidarity
and sharing to become our way of being and living.
Solidarity is a sure means of building a more humane and peaceable world
founded on fraternity, justice, freedom and harmony. It is a virtue that seeks the
common good, of each and every individual, respectful of his/her dignity, rights and
responsibilities. Persons who cultivate this virtue with conviction and commitment
motivate others to endeavour to work for the wellbeing and empowerment of one and
all with a sense of responsibility towards others. In this way, the culture of solidarity
will get nurtured everywhere.
A genuine spirit of sharing by the more fortunate of the society towards the less
fortunate ones - the poor, the suffering and the most vulnerable ones can counter
human greed and selfishness that are at the very root of many of the ills affecting the
society. It is worth noting here what Saint John Chrysostom, one of the Early Fathers
of the Church said, “Not to share one’s wealth with the poor is to steal from them and to take away their livelihood. It is not our own goods which we hold but theirs”
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, no.2446). May we also remember Jesus’ saying
that “There is more joy in giving than in receiving” (Holy Bible, Acts 20: 35).
As believers in our own respective religions with shared beliefs and
convictions on the Fatherhood of God and brotherhood/sisterhood of all humans and
our responsibility for others, may we, Christians and Sikhs nurture, starting from our
own families and communities and lead by personal examples, a culture of solidarity,
caring and sharing and make them, as Pope Francis says, “a true way of life, a rule of
conduct in our relationships with one another”(Message for XLIX World Day of
Peace, 2016) so that peace, happiness and prosperity may abound in the world!
Wish you all a happy Prakash Diwas of Guru Nanak Dev Ji!

                                  Jean-Louis Cardinal Tauran
                                       President

                                                    Bishop Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, M.C.C.I.
                                                                              Secretary

Christians and Sikhs: 
nurturing together families as true centres of humanity
Message for Guru Nanak Prakash Diwas2015
Vatican City

Dear Sikh Friends,

1. The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue is much pleased to offer its warmest greetings and felicitations as you commemorate on 25th November the five hundred and forty sixth birth anniversary of Siri Guru Nanak Dev (1469-1539). May the celebration of this feast enrich and enliven your hearts and homes with the warmth of love to make your families and communities more and more serene and humane! 

2. In our times, there seems to be a gradual erosion of familial values that threaten the very institution of the family, the ‘nest’ of humanization of persons. Being truly concerned about this global scenario, we deem it opportune to share with you, on this occasion, some thoughts on the need both for Christians and Sikhs, as members of one larger human family, to rise to the challenges and to contribute towards protecting and promoting families as centres of deep humanity. 

3. Family founded on sound ethical and spiritual values, unarguably, is the first school of human formation in which children concretely and in a healthy manner experience and learn what it means to be human. Inspired and challenged by the humanness of parents and elders, visibly and tangibly demonstrated not only within the family but also outside, they grow into caring, sharing and forgiving persons in an atmosphere of mutual give and take and with a great sense of self-sacrifice. Their care and concern extends to everyone irrespective of who and what they are and in a special way to the needy and the marginalized. It is the good of the family more than anything else that binds them to a common code of conduct and drives them to work in unison despite the differences they may have. Such a family is home to some of the fundamental elements of peace and therefore is rightly called “the primary agency”, “the first and indispensable teacher of peace” (Pope Benedict XVI, Message for the World Day of Peace, 2008) and “the primary place of ‘humanization’ for the person and society” (Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation Christifideles Laici, 40, 1989). Members of these families transcend the confines of their own immediate, adopted and extended families to embrace the whole of humanity as their one large human family. 

4. Family becomes what the members are. It is true of the society too whose constituents the families are. If the members of the families are men and women of virtues and values that make them genuinely human- that they respect others as they are and that they open their hearts to others’ needs, the society is bound to be one of compassion and sharing, paving the way for equality and peaceful co-existence of all; a lack of them would result in a rise in individualistic, egoistic and consumerist tendencies whereby indifference gets globalized. The rapid spreading of these tendencies among the members of families  renders individuals poor in terms of  ‘humanness’ and makes the humanization process difficult, adversely affecting thus cohesion, cooperation and co-existence within families and in the society. 

5. Both of our religions stress the centrality of families in the society. As believers grounded in our own respective religious traditions and as members of larger human family we are concerned about the future of families. May we Christians and Sikhs, therefore, join hands with all believers and people of goodwill in order to nurture ‘true family spirit’ and to promote effective humanization. Pope Francis’ appeal to us is: “…let us care for our families, true schools for the future. Let us care for our families, true spaces of freedom. Let us care for families, true centres of humanity” (Meeting with Families, Cathedral of Our Lady of Assumption, Santiago (Cuba), 22 September, 2015). 

Wishing you all a happy Prakash Diwas of Guru Nanak Dev Ji!

Jean-Louis Cardinal Tauran
President

Father Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, MCCJ
Secretary

Christians and Sikhs: 

together to promote compassionate service

Message for Guru Nanak Prakash Diwas 2014 

Dear Sikh Friends,

 1.       The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, in a spirit of friendship and goodwill, extends its warmest greetings and felicitations to you as you observe the Prakash Diwas of Siri Guru Nanak Dev Sahib on 6 November this year. May the celebrations of this feast further strengthen the bonds of relationships between your families and communities for greater happiness, harmony and peace!

2.       We wish to reflect with you this year on how we, both Christians and Sikhs together, can promote compassionate service in the society. Compassionate service, in its different aspects and nuances, can be said to lie at the very heart of every great religion.  For us Christians, it finds its perfect expression in the very person of Jesus Himself. The most eloquent description of it in the Holy Bible (NT), can be found in the parable of the ‘good Samaritan’ (Lk 10:25-37). For you, too, compassion (daya) and service (seva), selfless service rather, for the benefit of others, are the core concepts. Bhai Gurdas, the first interpreter of Gurbani wrote: “the hands and feet that shun seva are condemnable; actions other than seva are fruitless” (Varan, XXVII.10). To do compassionate service means to reach out to the poor, the needy, sick, elderly, differently-abled, migrants, refugees, the exploited and persecuted, transcending all kinds of barriers and giving up one’s own interests and comforts, for they, too, are God’s handiwork and as such our brothers and sisters and are part of our one large human family. When clothed in the true spirit of charity and selflessness, such a service becomes an all-encompassing and rewarding experience for both the giver and the receiver.

3.       The growing materialistic, consumerist and individualistic tendencies in today’s world, unfortunately, are making humans more and more self-centred, insensitive and indifferent to the needs and sufferings of others. Decrying these disturbing trends, Pope Francis, whose words and gestures of compassion and service have by now become proverbial, has called for a culture in which everyone feels loved, wanted and cared for and “no one is seen as useless, out of place or disposable” (Message for the 101st World Day of Migrants and Refugees (2015), 3 September 2014).

4.       As believers in our own respective religions with a shared treasury of values, may we, Christians and Sikhs, rediscover the importance of compassionate service in our personal and collective lives and make it a way of life, inspiring and encouraging others as well in this regard so as to promote happiness, harmony and peace everywhere. May we, joining hands with others, contribute to making a better, more just and fraternal world.

We wish you all a Happy Prakash Divas of Siri Guru Nanak Dev Sahib!

Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran
President

Father Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, MCCJ 
Secretary

Message for the Feast of Guru Nanak Prakash Diwas 2013

Christians and Sikhs:  to nurture a culture of friendship and solidarity for peace

 Dear Sikh Friends,

 1.       The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue most cordially extends to you its warmest greetings and well-wishes as you commemorate the Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Sahib on 17th of November. May the celebration of this feast enhance peace, harmony and happiness in your families, neighbourhoods and communities!

 2.       Due to globalization, humanity today is much more inter-connected and inter-dependent than in the past; people in general live in a spirit of friendship and fellowship. But unfortunately, the ill effects of globalization have also drifted some of them from one another. The alarming rise, in recent times, in the instances of tensions, conflicts and violence in many parts of the world is becoming more and more a cause of great concern to all those who have the welfare of humanity close at heart. Given this disquieting situation, we wish to share with you, on this occasion, a few thoughts on how we, Christians and Sikhs, can contribute towards nurturing a culture of friendship and solidarity among people for peace.

 3.       At the root of this crisis, as many of us would believe, is the growing selfish and individualistic tendencies that have resulted in widespread inequality and injustice and have given rise to what Pope Francis would term as ‘a throw-away culture’, ‘a culture of indifference’ and a ‘culture of waste’, whereby human beings, shockingly though, are considered as ‘commodities’ rather than as ‘persons’ and therefore easily disposable and replaceable, having no qualms of conscience.

 4.       As believers in our own respective religious creeds that unequivocally affirm the inherent dignity of every human person with inalienable rights and the consequent duties, we are called upon to do all that we can, individually and collectively, to protect and preserve it by promoting a ‘culture of closeness’ (friendship) with everyone. More specifically, our focus should be on the ‘neighbouring other’ to make the world more humane, where everyone feels respected and accepted. Our convictions, religious or otherwise, must impel us to see others ‘like ourselves’ and to treat them with respect they deserve as persons of incalculable value.

 5.       This culture of friendship is best developed through the practice of ‘encounter and dialogue’ in mutual trust, esteem and manifestation of goodness in our day-to-day lives. Dialogue fosters understanding, harmony, concord and peace. It makes the people of different religious and cultural traditions to live together in peace and to work together for the common good by developing a ‘culture of solidarity’. In the words of Pope Francis: “There is no future for any country, for any society, for our world, unless we are able to show greater solidarity” (Meeting with the Academic and Cultural World, Cagliari, 22 September, 2013).

7.       Being convinced of our own respective religious teachings and conscious of our individual and shared responsibility towards the society that we are all part of, may we, Sikhs and Christians, joining hands with others, promote a culture of friendship and solidarity to build a just, peaceable and habitable world..

Wish you all a Happy Prakash Divas of Siri Guru Nanak Dev Sahib!

Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran
President

Father Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, MCCJ 
Secretary