Christian World | The Vatican's interreligious dialogue office urged Hindus and Christians to build peace through prayer, fraternity and dialogue in its 2026 Deepavali message

ACW | October 31, 2026 — The Vatican's Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue urged Hindus and Christians to work together for peace "in the spirit of Assisi" in a Deepavali message released on Friday, October 30.

The message is signed by Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, the dicastery's prefect, and its secretary, Msgr. Indunil Janakaratne Kodithuwakku Kankanamalage. Deepavali, the Hindu festival of lights, falls on November 8 this year.

The dicastery said this year marks the 40th anniversary of the 1986 Assisi gathering, where Pope John Paul II invited leaders of other religions to pray for peace. It named wars, conflicts and the use of religion for political ends as major challenges today.

Quoting Pope Leo XIV, the message said "genuine prayer overcomes differences and disarms hearts, minds and lives." Citing Pope Benedict XVI's 2011 Assisi address, it called violence "the antithesis of religion."

Background: The Vatican sends a message to Hindus for Deepavali every year. Pope Leo XIV also told an international peace meeting in Assisi that there is no such thing as a holy war, as ACW reported in Pope Leo to Assisi peace meeting: no such thing as a holy war.

Why it matters: "The more fraternity flourishes among us, the more peace will take root in our hearts," the dicastery said. The message places interreligious dialogue "at the heart of the spirit of Assisi" and asks both communities to pray for peace while respecting each other's traditions.

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Sources: Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue — Message to Hindus for Deepavali 2026; Vatican News

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