His Eminence Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the Archbishop of Bombay and President of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conference (FABC), highlighted the significant role of education in an individual’s life and conveyed that education plays a fundamental role in fostering religious harmony. His Beatitude Cardinal Gracias was addressing the galaxy of intellectuals gathered at a Symposium on interreligious and intercultural dialogue at St. Andrews College in Mumbai.
As reported by Asian news, His Eminence Cardinal Gracias remarked that “ India is a country full of contrasts, sociological and economic, a land where in spite of so much of diversity, there is still unity. Education must strive to unveil cultural and religious intolerance and prejudices. In our educational institutions, teachers and students of every religion must be encouraged to join the quest for peace by examining our own readiness to forgive others and to be reconciled, and by making gestures of forgiveness and reconciliation. Without peace between religions, peace in the world is not possible.” Further, Cardinal Gracias added, “Education plays a key role in the shaping of the attitudes and behavior of people, so that they realize the importance of communal harmony.”
His Eminence Cardinal reminded that education for peace includes teaching youth to deal respectfully with people of other convictions, cultures and civilizations. It means learning to dialogue with people with whom they have conflicting interests. Cardinal concluded his remarks by emphasizing that “Reconciliation is indispensable for the promotion of peace in society and the Church extols reconciliation, pardon.”
