Pope John Paul II was the first pope to establish a relationship between the Jain community and the Holy See. The Jain leader was invited to the 1986 historic interreligious gathering for peace in Assisi. Central to Jain philosophy is the respect for every form of life and a commitment to avoiding harm wherever possible.

On 19 October 2026, Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, delivered a message during an Ahimsa Day celebration organised by the Institute of Jainology at the British Parliament in London.
Read more about this recent encounter here.

Picture: Cardinal Tauran visited the UK in 2013 and discussed non-violence at the Jain Derasar at the Oshwal Centre, Hertfordshire.