Published: July 01, 2011
Pope Benedict XVI Celebrates 60th Anniversary of Priesthood
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed today congratulated His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI as he celebrates his 60th anniversary of his ordination to priesthood.
Zed said Pope should take a leadership role to initiate a dialogue among various religions and denominations of the world that will result in a joint roadmap on common religious concerns like human improvement, peace, ecological responsibility, social and economic development.
Rajan Zed further said that Pope should also embrace the cause of Roma (Gypsies) of Europe who are facing apartheid conditions. He argued that Jesus Christ clearly told the world to help the helpless, defenseless and downtrodden. The Pope should also raise his voice strongly against continuous Roma maltreatment as the acclaimed representative of God on earth.
It is a sin to silently watch 15-million Roma suffer day after day for the last 1200 years and doing nothing about it. Zed pointed out that being the most powerful religious leader in the world, it is the Pope's moral obligation to make efforts to stop the frequent human rights violations suffered by Roma.