VATICAN CITY—On May 10, 2024, Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada met Pope Francis at the Apostolic Palace.
Their meeting, which lasted 30 minutes, began with warm greetings. President Harada
conveyed his hope that, amid these tumultuous times, religions that seek peace can transcend their differences and work together based on a shared love for humanity. Pope Francis thanked President Harada for these sentiments.
Then, on behalf of the Ikeda family, President Harada conveyed appreciation for the condolences extended by Pope Francis on the passing of Ikeda Sensei.
The Soka Gakkai president expressed his commitment to continue working together toward human happiness and world peace, to which Pope Francis voiced his concern over current global challenges, stating that war signifies defeat and must be eradicated.
On the topic of the abolition of nuclear weapons, President Harada introduced the Soka Gakkai’s efforts over more than five decades toward this end under Sensei’s leadership. Pope Francis voiced his strong criticism of nuclear weapons and commended these efforts.
Following this meeting, President Harada met with Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, president of the Fratelli Tutti Foundation, in Rome. Kimiko Nagaishi, Soka Gakkai women’s leader, and Hirotsugu Terasaki, SGI director general for peace and global issues, also attended.
—Adapted from reports by the SGI’s Office of Public Information
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