Pope Cites Buddha in Plea for Interfaith Harmony

Pope Francis underscored the importance of religious unity to counteract the surge of ideological fundamentalism that fuels violence, drawing upon the Buddha’s teachings during his address in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Speaking at a prominent inter-religious event with multiple faith representatives, Pope Francis described himself as a “humble heir” to ancient reservoirs of wisdom. Such interfaith meetings have been a subject of contention among some conservative factions within the Catholic Church.