Buddhism and Christianity share a respect for poverty, the Vatican says in a Vesak message to the world’s Buddhists. There are two kinds of poverty, according to the Vatican:

While very different, there are two types of poverty, the message said.

One is a poverty that can be chosen in the form of emptying oneself in order to listen to and be more open to God and other people, the message said.

The other kind of poverty is a material deprivation that “prevents people and families from living as befits their dignity,” it said.

The Vatican also praised Buddhism’s nonattachemnt, contentment, and anti-consumerism in this materialistic world. But the Dalai Lama is sill not invited to meet Benedict XV!.

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