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Vatican sends Hindus goodwill note

The Vatican has sent a message to India's Hindus, some of whom oppose Pope John Paul II's visit to New Delhi next week, urging cooperation between the two faiths to meet the challenges of the new millennium.

The letter, written by Cardinal Francis Arinze, president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, was timed to coincide with both the Papal visit and the festival of Diwali on November 7.

The Pope leaves on Friday for a four-day visit to New Delhi and will be present in India during the festival.

Cardinal Arinze acknowledged that ''profound differences'' existed between Christianity and the Hindu religion but said the two faiths also held much in common to enable them to meet the challenges facing humanity.

''It is necessary to become more and more aware of our shared responsibilities in this world so that together we may embark upon the new millennium in a way that provides greater hope for the coming generations,'' the Nigerian Cardinal said in the open letter made available to the media by the Vatican.

Many Hindu hardliners oppose the Pope's visit and some groups have demanded an apology from the Polish pontiff for past actions of the Catholic church in India and for what some say were the forced conversions of Indians to the Christian faith.

The Pope's visit is aimed at wrapping up last year's Asian Synod with a message of greater evangelisation in Asia, the continent with the fewest number of Roman Catholics.

The Pope delivered a similar theme at the end of synods for Africa in 1998 and the Americas in January.

Perhaps sensing the hostility from some parts of the Hindu community, Cardinal Arinze stressed in his message much that the two religions had in common.

''Drawing on the spiritual themes we have in common and opening our hearts to the divine reality beyond us, our collaboration can do much to alleviate suffering in the world,'' he said.

Reuters

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