Welcoming the election of Robert Prevost as new Pope Leo XIV, Hindus hope that he will be more open to reforms and lead efforts at interfaith dialogue. 

Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Omaha (USA) today, hoped that Pope Leo XIV would intensify the Roman Catholic Church’s efforts at interfaith dialogue and creating harmony among world’s diverse religions; be more open to reforms; and bring transparency, maturity, accountability and modernization to Church.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, indicated that Hindus would gladly work with him to create a more harmonious, inclusive, peaceful and sustainable world; building bridges and finding common ground.  

Rajan Zed suggested that the new Pope; leader of about 1.4 billion adherents worldwide, should dedicate himself for defending human rights, helping the helpless, charitable projects, human improvement, ecological responsibility, etc. 

The new Pope should also seriously take-up the issue of apartheid faced by about 15-million Roma (Gypsies) of Europe, whose traces in Europe went as far back as the ninth century CE; Zed stated. 

Moreover, he should reconsider favorably the ordination of women priests as women could disseminate God’s message as skillfully as men and deserved equal and full participation and access in religion. The Church could hold a referendum among its congregations worldwide to learn about the feelings of Catholics on the subject. The Holy See, being the largest religious organization in the world, should show exemplary leadership in women equality to the rest of the planet; Rajan Zed argued.