Institute of Jainology has been developing relationship with the Vatican since 1991 and this relationship is getting closer year on year.
The Institute had initiated a visit by the Roman Catholic Archbishop in the UK to meet the Jain community at the Oshwal Centre, Potters Bar. Oshwal Association of the UK had hosted the visit and took the opportunity to show the Jain temple to the Archbishop.
The success of this visit prompted a visit by Cardinal Tauran, President of the Pontifical Interfaith Relations Office in Rome on similar lines and proved to be a huge success. The Cardinal came to the UK to specially meet the representatives of three faiths – Jain faith being one of them.
This visit cemented the relationship between the Jains and Roman Catholic church on a much firmer footing and the exchange of messages on each others festivals which used to be brief courtesy messages are becoming much more elaborate.
First such message was received last year. This year a much more elaborate message has been received reflecting the various points centering on Jain values of peace which were discussed during the Cardinal’s visit last year.
This message was sent in both English and Hindi languages and copies of both messages are attached.
Please click on the links below to read the message in English or Hindi
Vatican’s Mahavir Jayanti_Message 2014
Mahavir Jayanti_Message_Hindi-2014