His Holiness Pays Respects to Pope, Campaigns Against Poaching
Dharamsala 7 April 2005: His Holiness the Dalai Lama yesterday visited the Vatican Embassy in New Delhi where he met with the Vatican ambassador to India Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana. His Holiness had earlier said that he held the late pontiff in high regard.
His Holiness signs condolence book at Vatican embassy in New Delhi, (AP Photo/Manish Swarup) |
A press release issued after the passing away of Pope John Paul II quoted His Holiness the Dalai Lama as saying that His Holiness developed a close personal friendship with pope. His Holiness yesterday paid his respects to the pope at the Vatican Embassy in New Delhi and also signed the condolence book.
Earlier in the day, His Holiness had attended a gathering organised by the Wildlife Trust of India and UK based Care for the Wild International (CWI), which had jointly invited His Holiness. His Holiness is working with the two organisations to promote an understanding of the damage illegal trading can cause, a BBC report said.
“We Tibetans are basically Buddhists, we preach love and compassion towards all other living beings on Earth,” remarked His Holiness. “Therefore it is the responsibility of all of us to realise the importance of wildlife conservation.”
His Holiness the Dalai Lama also attended the premiere of a film about His Holiness’ lifestyle “A journey in the world of the Dalai Lama”- made by noted filmmaker Goutam Ghose. The film, a report says, depicts the journey of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
“I appreciated all the people who work for this film, this film makes clarification on Tibet issue and also spread the massage of Buddha”, the report quoted His Holiness as saying.
The film captures the His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his worldwide tours highlights His Holiness’ interaction with his followers all over the world.
A hit with audiences at the Venice International Film Festival this past September, Goutam Ghose’s new film gives its viewers an intimate experience in the company of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the report further said.
His Holiness leaves for Japan tomorrow and will return to India on 19 April. His Holiness will then leave for Sikkim, a predominantly Buddhist state of India, on 20 April on a weeklong visit. According to a Statesman report dated 15 March, His Holiness will visit several monasteries in Sikkim and will give spiritual discourses.
This forthcoming visit of His Holiness will be the first after the normalisation of relations between India and China and the recognition of Sikkim as part of India by the Chinese government.