Dalai Lama Backs Pope's Peace Plea, Urges Dialogue Over Violence in Conflicts

Dalai Lama in a post on X said that all religions preach tolerance and peace, and violence is condemned.

"I wholeheartedly endorse the powerful appeal for peace made by the Holy Father, Pope Leo, during his Palm Sunday Mass. His call for the laying down of arms and the renunciation of violence resonated profoundly with me, as it speaks to the very essence of what all major religions teach," he said.

"Indeed, whether we look to Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism or any of the world's great spiritual traditions, the message is fundamentally the same: love, compassion, tolerance, and self-discipline. Violence finds no true home in any of these teachings. History has shown us time and again that violence only begets more violence and is never a lasting foundation for peace," he added.

He further said that resolution to the conflicts must be rooted in dialogue.

"An enduring resolution to conflict, including the ones we see in the Middle East or between Russia and Ukraine, must be rooted in dialogue, diplomacy and mutual respect -- approached with the understanding that, at the deepest level, we are all brothers and sisters. I urge for and pray that the violence and conflicts may soon come to an end," he said.

In a Palm Sunday ceremony marking the beginning of Holy Week, Pope Leo XIV said God "does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war but rejects them," as quoted by CNN.

When asked to comment on the Pope's statement, US White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, "Our nation was a nation founded 250 years ago, almost, on Judeo-Christian values. And we've seen, Presidents, we've seen, the leaders of the Department of War, and we've seen our troops go to prayer, during the most turbulent times in our nation's history. I don't think there's anything wrong with our military leaders or with the president calling on the American people to pray for our service members and those who are serving our country overseas. In fact, I think it's a very noble thing to do."

- ANI