June 4 – On his arrival at Rome Airport on Friday by a special flight from Edinburgh, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was welcomed by Mr. Gianni Vernetti, MP and President of the Italian Parliamentary Group for Tibet and his colleagues, Senator Alessandro Forlani and Mr. Pietro Folena, MP; Mr. Guenther Cologna, President of the Italia-Tibet Association and his colleagues, representatives of Buddhist Centres, Tibetan Community and the Association for Global New Thought, the organizers of the two-day Synthesis dialogues III at Castel Gandolfo, Rome.
Immediately upon His arrival, the Italian Parliamentary Group for Tibet briefed His Holiness on the initiatives they have undertaken over the last six months, especially the passage of two resolutions – one in the Chamber of the Deputies and the other in the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee towards the release of Tulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and their future plans.
His Holiness then granted an interview to National TV – RAI 3.
Later at the Santa Lucia Foundation Hospital in Rome His Holiness met with Mr. Francesca Storace, Governor of the Letium Region, senior Hospital staffs and patients and the disabled, some of who are members of basketball and archery teams representing the State. They exhibited some of their sporting skills to His Holiness and His Holiness expressed that they had special skills and high spirits.
Saturday, 5th June – The central theme of His Holiness’s speech at the opening of the Synthesis Dialogues II was the importance of the need to promote the spirit of pluralism in the field of religion. He explained that, in ancient times when communities remained isolated from each other, perhaps there was no real need for pluralism. Peoples, nations and religions remained relatively independent of one another. Under such circumstances the spirit of pluralism was perhaps not relevant. However, today the reality of our world is completely different. Not only on the global level but also on local level almost every major community has effectively become multicultural and multi-religious. Under this new reality, we have no choice but to foster a deep acceptance of the spirit of pluralism. In this respect, His Holiness mentioned that the world could learn from the long experience of India where many faiths and traditions have lived side by side for centuries.
His Holiness also stressed the importance of distinguishing between the essence of religion and its cultural traditions. Although, on the cultural level, a particular religion may assume distinct expressions that are related to a particular ethnic or cultural community, however, in terms of its essential teaching, it must relate to the humanity at large. He explained that the founding teachers of the world’s great religions gave their teachings for the welfare of entire humanity. His Holiness stated that in terms of essence all religions must pertain to the transformation of the human heart and mind. It is on this basis, we must recognize, that the teachings of all major religions come together. Delegates from ten countries representing all major religions and traditions are participating in this dialogue.
Later in the day, at the invitation of the Mayor of Rome, Mr. Walter Veltroni, His Holiness inaugurated the exhibition of photographs on Tibet by the late Italian Fosco Maraini who visited Tibet in the early part of last century.
The two leaders also met separately within the exhibition building.
His Holiness concluded His visit by giving a brief talk to the many people including the media who had gathered there.
