Pope Francis: My Wish Is for Buddhists and Catholics to Grow ‘Increasingly Closer’

Pope Francis told a Buddhist delegation from Thailand Wednesday that his desire was for Buddhists and Catholics to grow ever closer to each other.

“It is my heartfelt wish that Buddhists and Catholics will grow increasingly closer,” Francis said, “advance in knowledge of one another and in esteem for their respective spiritual traditions, and offer the world a witness to the values of justice, peace, and the defense of human dignity.”