SINGAPORE, March 14 – Congratulating Jorge Mario Bergoglio on his election as the Roman Catholic Church’s 266th new Pope Francis, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed(Pic) expressed hope the pointiff will be more open to reforms and lead efforts at interfaith dialogue.
Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, said he hoped the new pope would intensify the Church’s efforts at interfaith dialogue and create harmony among the world’s diverse religions, be more open to reforms, and bring transparency, maturity, accountability and modernisation to the Church.
Zed also urged the new Pope to produce a detailed White Paper on the global child abuse scandal engulfing the Catholic Church. He called on Pope Francis, who now leads about 1.2 billion adherents worldwide, to dedicate himself to defending human rights and helping the helpless, ecological protection and human development.
Zed also suggested that the new pope take up the apartheid issue faced by about 15-million Roma (Gypsies) of Europe, whose traces in Europe went as far back as ninth century CE.
“The Pope should also reconsider the ordination of women priests as women can disseminate God’s message as skillfully as men and deserve equal and full participation and access in religion,” he added.
BERNAMA
