Ecumenical Prayer for Peace in the Spirit of Assisi on the eve of the International Meeting of Peoples and Religions in 2015 in Tirana "Peace is always possible" #peaceispossible

 

September 5th 2015, 7 pm

Church of San Bernardino, Via Lanzone 13, Milan

 

Is forgiveness a Buddhist concept? Yes, if we want to lose the ability to get out of suffering, suffering that is closely related to the role of victim from which we leave, when we understand the concept of karma and the need to develop the qualities of compassion (desire that Another does not suffer). Buddhism offers us a gradual method to reach this capacity.

 

The prophet Mohammed stressed the importance of forgiveness. The prophet says that if there must be a punishment connected with a wrong committed, and this in particular in social sectors of government and not on a personal level, it must always be proportionate to the gravity of the act and never excessive, but at the individual level the righteous and better conduct is always to a full pardon.

 

The Waldensian population has a history sadly marked by death because of discrimination. From this, the ability of each Waldensian to forgive, to offer a free pardon from any claim to act as or better than the winner, arouses in our hearts even more admiration. But due to the sensitivity of those who have suffered serious losses and suffering, we stress the importance of forgiveness as a personal choice of each individual. There is no forgiveness obtained by proxy, but it is a gift that each individual can offer so strictly personal.

 

When St. Francis was asked how to overcome the pain of oppression and injustice suffered by others, the saint replied totally changing perspective. Rather than ask how we can get a good from the other, let us ask ourselves what we can do to provide good to everyone, from this point there will be a collective good that includes ourselves: it is in giving that we receive.

 

Masterfully led by Maria Bettetini, the day of interreligious dialogue has brought forgiveness to be a winning leader and a point of union for various faiths in comparison.