In a highly symbolic moment marking the Church’s openness to a Buddhist presence on European soil, Pope Paul VI met with the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje at the Vatican, in Rome, on January 17, 1975.
Welcoming the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, the Pope stated that “the Second Vatican Council expressed admiration for Buddhism in its various forms and for the contribution it makes to the spiritual elevation of man.”
Extending warm greetings to the “entire religious community” represented by the 16th Karmapa, the Pope highlighted the common ground binding us together.
“We are friends of all men of good will, especially those who, like you, have preserved and promoted the spiritual and moral values of man.”
The Pope explained that the Vatican had established a Secretariat to promote relations and dialogue with non-Christian religions and that “the sons and daughters of the Catholic Church are increasingly open to friendly cooperation with the followers of them for the promotion of peace.”
The Pope explained that the Vatican had established a Secretariat to promote relations and dialogue with non-Christian religions and that “the sons and daughters of the Catholic Church are increasingly open to friendly cooperation with the followers of them for the promotion of Peace.”
He concluded by affirming that “all moral and religious progress is a contribution to Peace. We all, after all, are pilgrims toward the Absolute and the Eternal, which alone can satisfy, completely, the human heart.”
Lama Jigme Rinpoche, who was present, stresses the importance of this audience, which “opened the door” for the Karma Kagyu school of Buddhism to take root in Europe.
The possibility for such a meeting was hatched in the early 1970s, when the King of Sikkim, at the time an independent kingdom, invited the Pope’s foreign secretary and president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, Archbishop Sergio Pignedoli, to meet the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa in Sikkim. As he was in India at the time, he accepted the invitation, met the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, and offered to facilitate an audience with the Pope should he travel to Europe. Archbishop Pignedoli, who was appointed Cardinal in 1973, was also present at the Vatican meeting.
These photos come from our archives or were collected as part of the research for Dhagpo Kagyu Ling’s 50th anniversary. We have not been able to identify all the authors. The use of these photos is solely for informational purposes within the context of Dhagpo Kagyu Ling’s 50th anniversary celebration. Their use is limited to this event and our website and is not for commercial purposes.
Event
Dhagpo Kagyu Ling will perform a day-long garsang, a ritual practice that restores any damage caused to the inner or outer environment.
These photos come from our archives or were collected as part of the research for Dhagpo Kagyu Ling’s 50th anniversary. We have not been able to identify all the authors. The use of these photos is solely for informational purposes within the context of Dhagpo Kagyu Ling’s 50th anniversary celebration. Their use is limited to this event and our website and is not for commercial purposes.
