In the message released April 3, Cardinal Tauran said that as students around the world increasingly have classmates with different beliefs from their own, schools have a responsibility to guide the young in reflecting on their own beliefs, learning about the beliefs and religious practices of others and growing in respect for others.

Education worthy of the name helps young people "advance together as responsible human beings and to be ready to join hands with those of other religions to resolve conflicts and to promote friendship, justice, peace and authentic human development," the cardinal said.

But young people aren't simply a hope for humanity's future, their reflections and their energy help adults grow in virtue as well, he said.

"They encourage us to find an answer to the most fundamental questions about life and death, justice and peace, the meaning of suffering and the reasons for hope," he said.

"By their dynamism, as builders of the future, they put pressure on us to destroy all the walls which, unfortunately, still separate us," the cardinal wrote.

Adults have a responsibility, he said, to "guide young people by our example and teaching to become instruments of justice and peace."

Vesakh is celebrated in different countries on different days in the spring. The celebrations begin April 8 in Japan and go through the June 4 celebration in Thailand.