Pope Francis cites Sree Narayana Guru's teachings to combat global intolerance
Thiruvananthapuram: Pope Francis emphasised the importance of Sree Narayana Guru's teachings in addressing the growing issues of hate and intolerance worldwide. Speaking at the Vatican on Saturday, the Pope addressed faith leaders during an event commemorating the centenary of the all-religion conference organised by Sree Narayana Guru in Aluva, Kerala.
The Pope described the Guru's message of universal human unity as crucial in today's world, where instances of intolerance and hatred among peoples and nations are on the rise.
"Sree Narayana Guru dedicated his life to promoting social and religious awakening. He emphasised that all human beings, irrespective of ethnicity, religion, or cultural traditions, belong to a single human family," the Pope stated.
He further highlighted the Guru's stand against discrimination, saying, "He insisted there should be no discrimination against anyone at any level."
The Pope expressed concern over the ongoing challenges of exclusion, violence, and discrimination based on race, religion, language, and social origins, which disproportionately affect marginalised and voiceless communities.
Referencing the 2019 Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, co-signed with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, Pope Francis reiterated the shared belief that all human beings are equal in rights, duties, and dignity.
He called for strengthening unity in diversity and fostering harmonious coexistence amid differences. "As followers of our respective religious traditions, we must work together to promote respect, dignity, compassion, reconciliation, and solidarity," the Pope remarked, citing a joint declaration issued in September at Istiqlal.
The event, supported by the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, saw participation from prominent religious leaders from Kerala.
Sree Narayana Guru (1856–1928) was a spiritual leader and social reformer from Kerala. Born into a marginalised Hindu community, he dedicated his life to breaking caste barriers and advocating for equality, non-violence, and religious harmony. His teachings continue to inspire efforts towards social justice and unity.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Cristiano Ronaldo scores his 100th Saudi Pro League goal
Riyadh (AP): Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 100th Saudi Pro League goal as Al-Nassr beat Al-Shabab 4-2 to move five points clear at the top of the table.
The 41-year-old forward converted a Sadio Mané cross at the near post with 15 minutes remaining to record the 971st goal of his career on Thursday. It was also his 26th league goal of the season.
“Ronaldo is always dangerous going forward and we saw that again today,” Al-Nassr coach Jorge Jesus said.
João Félix, signed from Chelsea in July, scored three goals for the league leaders.
The win took Al-Nassr to 82 points from 32 games, five ahead of Al-Hilal, which has three matches, one more than Nassr, left to play. Al-Hilal meets Al-Kholood on Friday and faces Nassr on Tuesday in what could be a title decider against its Riyadh rival.
“Now we have a derby match against our rival, which is a difficult encounter,” Jesus said.
“We are fully aware of its importance, and we are dealing with it with complete focus as we know that small details could decide the result.”
Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, has yet to secure a major trophy in Saudi Arabia since signing with Al-Nassr in December 2022.
