HINDU FORUM OF EUROPE –HINDUS-CHRISTIAM MEETING -VATICAN CITY

It was the first time that - representatives of Christians and Hindus - met at Vatican City to get to know each other and explore avenues for collaboration. Great thanks to the initiative of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, Hindu Forum of Europe, Italian Hindu Union, and the Ecumenical Council of Churches. More than FIFTY representatives have joined from each country of Europe and UK at the conference for an open and stimulating discussions, with friendship and openness. This meeting was schedule for 2020 but postponed due to the Pandemic

As president of Hindu Forum of Europe, I was requested to greet the special audience and to give some insight into to kind of work, we did in Europe.

The participants offered a true constellation of both ethnic and cultural backgrounds, In short a remarkable cross section of the European Hindu panorama came together for the first time The program took place over the course of three days: an informal moment on the evening of arrival in order to get to know each other and familiarize with other. On Tuesday 2^nd May, an intense program with very qualified and eminent speakers touched upon the richness of the both the religions. May 3, with Pope Francis' greeting to our group and a group photo. A worthy conclusion to a very positive experience 

Roberto’s Catalano’s observation and comments and conclusions Thanks to Dr. Roberto Catalano for a very well written blog on out Hindus-Christian Meeting. My sincere appreciation and thanks to Dr. Roberto Catalano

I rightly agree with Roberto Catalano’s conclusions in his blog-  Europe due to the identity crisis that we have been going through for some time, accompanied by the growing fear of the 'Islamic invasion,' so much feared and cleverly exploited by politicians and administrations capable of riding the tiger of terror generated by Islam, little is realized how other cultures and religions are slowly but deeply penetrating the European social and cultural fabric. Among these, Hinduism and Buddhism are undoubtedly the ones exerting the greatest influence, not only and not so much because of migratory processes - Hindus migrating to Europe undoubtedly do not have the numbers of Muslims, but neither are they to be underestimated - but also because of cultural processes that through sensitivities, traditions, and idea have penetrated into everyday Western ways of thinking. Hinduism does not have the clear and defined features of Islam and, for the European mindset, is difficult both to define and to represent resulting in relational problems

I remember at the Diwali holiday celebration held at the Senate of the Italian Republic last October, one of our very experienced and deep political representatives-Emma Bonino-was wondering and asking Hindus, "But where were you? We didn't know you were there." This is not the case in every European country. In England, the followers of the Sanatana dharma reach the one million mark - almost a metropolis - but we should not underestimate the fact that in Italy there are two hundred thousand, equal to many of our cities that were the seat of what used to be provinces. An important presence, then, to be taken into account, but also to be valued at the time that our continent is going through.

The encounter with the world and tradition of the Indian sub-continent can open new cultural and religious syntheses and also avenues of cooperation and peace. This and much more was discussed during the conference at the Vatican where the current states of being of both Christianity and Hinduism within the continent were presented, but also their already present and active collaborations and potential ones. The process of integration of the followers of Hinduism in Europe was discussed and, in this case, the Church's engagement in this process in different contexts. Finally, starting from considering the encounter between cultures and religions as a mutual gift, they came to reflect on the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - the world is a family - typical of Hindu ancient tradition, and that of fraternity, closer to Christian sensibility.

The conclusion was marked by concrete proposals on possible ways of collaboration in Europe between Christians and Hindus for a new humanism, characterized not only by Western categories but by the encounter of these two sensibilities. There was no lack of local experiences and examples offered from true stories that happened in cities and dioceses. However, what struck me, in addition to the quality of the speeches, was the spirit and atmosphere of true fraternity that reigned during the days of the conference, leaving the participants with the certainty that they had begun a meaningful journey for their different and respective communities but also for Europe, which needs these integrations for its future and which must find ways out of the fear of 'different'.

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Inaugural Adress H.Em. Card. Miguel Ayuso MCCJ, Prefect, Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue

Greetings – Dr. Lakshmi Vyas, President, Hindu Forum of Europe in English

Paramhansa Yoganand Giri, Hon President, Italian Hindu Union - Italian

Rev. Prof Jerry Pillay, Secretary General, World Council of Churches - Italian

Speakers – a) Prof Knut Axel Jacobson, University of Bergen, Norway, b) Olivier Roy, 3. Florance, Prof. Gaetano Sabetta, Rome, 4. Dr. Aanand Mishra, Germany, 5. His Excellency Msgr. Brenden Leahy, Interreligious Dialogue section, 6.Dr. Melanie Barbato, Germany, 7.Sadhu Paramtatvadas, BAPS – Hindu perspective, 8. Dr. Roberto Catalano, Sofia University- Christian Perspective, 9.Dr. Satish Joshi, President, Swiss Federation -Hindu Response, 10. Rev. Prof Byron Lobo, Rome – Christian response, 11. Swamini Hamsananda Giri, Italian Hindu Uniion – Hindu perspective, 12. Dr Paola, Interreligious studies- Christian Perspective, 13. Acharya Vidyabhaskar, Omkar Ashram-Hindu tradition, 14. Dr Giuliano Savina -Interreligious dialogue Italy – Christian Tradition

Moderators- 1.Rev Canon Dr. Peniel Rajkumar, 2.Sr. Maureen Goodman, Bhramakumari. 3. Rev Prof. Cherian Thunduparambil, Rome and 4. Dr. Deesha Chadha Imperial College London.

Nitin Palan, BABPS, Sanjay Gadvi, Bhakti Vedanta Manor,  Radha Kirshna Das, Hungary, Iskcon,  Radge Bhonde, Krishna Kripa Dasa, Meenatchsoundaravelu, Kantilal Jamnadas, Haripriya Italy, Ananta krishna, Italy, Swami Prayananda Giri, Anup Kumar Gosh, Sunil Narula, Swami Tyagnanda Ghiri, Gianluca Troiano, Faracl di Maria Italy