Vesak Day Message (May 2026)

Dear Buddhist friends,

Our warmest greetings to you and your families this Vesak Day, as you commemorate with joy and reverence the birth, enlightenment, and final nirvana of Gautama Buddha. May this sacred festival renew in you the light of wisdom, compassion, and loving-kindness.

These are virtues needed more than ever in a world increasingly torn by distrust and discord, and by violence fuelled by falsehoods and fear spread through selfish, sectarian interests.

The Buddha taught, “Hatred is never appeased by hatred; by non-hatred alone does it end. This is an eternal truth.” (Dhammapada 1:5).

Jesus Christ said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:43-45)

Both teachings call us to break cycles of hatred with wisdom, clarity and loving-kindness. In our daily lives, each of us can do our small part by speaking honestly, acting with integrity, and respecting the human dignity of everyone around us, whether in our families, our workplaces, our places of worship, or in society at large.

May we all have the moral courage to choose truth over falsehood, understanding and dialogue over prejudice and conflict, and reconciliation over retaliation, without fear of others’ judgement. Together with all faith communities in Singapore, let us build a nation that stands as a moral witness of peace, fraternity, and unity in diversity to the whole world.

Once again, on behalf of the Catholic community in Singapore, we wish you a blessed and holy Vesak Day!

✠ H. Em. William Cardinal Goh

Archbishop of Singapore

Msgr Peter Zhang, CDD

Vicar-General

(Interreligious and Ecumenical Relations)

23 May 2026