The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.112)

2019 • 07 36 Vatican City, Rome 2019.05.22 – 05.23 Uniting Hearts across Faiths lobal News Reported by Tzu Chi Documenting Team Translated by Translating Team Photographs provided by Tzu Chi Taiwan Headquarters T he Caritas Foundation extended an invitation to Tzu Chi USA to attend its 2019 General Assembly on May 22 and 23, 2019. Tzu Chi was the sole organization representing the Buddhist faith at the event. Tzu Chi representatives shared their experiences of reaching out to the needy, besides relating Tzu Chi’s efforts in extending aid to the underprivileged, subverting conservative perceptions of Buddhist institutions. The attendees were also introduced to Tzu Chi’s advocacy of the 5R’s in environmental conservation, which encompasses the concepts of Refuse, Reduce, Repair, Reuse and Recycle. The event was held in Rome, based on the theme “One Human Family, One Common Home”. Event delegates included representatives from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), World Vision and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), among other organizations. Meanwhile, representatives from Caritas’ chapters across four continents, namely Europe, the Americas, Africa andAsia, gathered at the Caritas Women’s Forum on May 22 to discuss issues related to gender equality and women’s rights from a faith-based perspective. The main Assembly commenced on May 23 at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City with an opening mass with Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State. Prior to mass, Caritas representatives led the attendees in a peace declaration whereby delegates of the respective religions represented at the event pledged to uphold their mission to spread the spirit of compassion and touch lives with love despite all odds. During the event, Tzu Chi representatives remarked that the Foundation has conducted humanitarian relief efforts across 98 countries/regions, besides forging collaborations with charitable organizations from various nations, transcending national and religious borders in the belief that all faiths are united in the common goal of bringing warmth to the hearts of all with compassion.