Catholics visit Buddhist leader in a historic interfaith meeting in Vientiane
The Venerable Maha Bounma Simmaphom welcomed Fr Daniele Mazza, a PIME missionary, and three members of the Apostolic Vicariate in the Laotian capital in the presence of the deputy director of the Department for Religious Affairs. The personal meeting, which marks an important first for the country, took place under the banner of “spiritual friendship”.
Vientiane (AsiaNews) – On 8 January 2025, at the Aram Thong Kham Hall of Wat Pha That Luang in Vientiane, a significant interreligious meeting took place between representatives of Buddhism and the Catholic community in Laos.
Father Daniele Mazza, PIME, together with three Catholic laymen from the Apostolic Vicariate of Vientiane, were welcomed by the Most Ven Phra Ajan Yai Maha Bounma Simmaphom, president of the Central Buddhist Fellowship Organisation of the Lao PDR, and the Most Venerable Athipatay Maytryjit, director general of the headquarters of the same organisation and Chair of the Metta Dhamma Project, along with a group of monks.
The meeting was also attended by Mr Bounthavy Phonethasine, Deputy Director General of the Department of Religious Affairs of the Lao Front for National Development, accompanied by two officials from the department.
Father Daniele's Address
In his address, Father Daniele expressed great joy and gratitude for the kind and open reception he received. He spoke with those present the completion, last December, about his PhD in Buddhism at Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, recounting how, during his studies, he formed deep friendships with monks from Laos. These relationships allowed him to develop a deeper appreciation of Laos's cultural values, better understand Buddhism, and simultaneously deepen his Christian faith.
Father Daniele emphasised the importance of the authentic search for truth, guided by profound friendships that transcend prejudices and foster sincere collaboration. He referred to the Buddhist monks he studied with as his Kalayanamitta (spiritual friends), a fundamental concept in Buddhist tradition. He hopes this meeting would be the first step toward deeper collaborations between religious traditions, particularly between Buddhists and Christians. He also wished Most Ven Phra Ajan Yai Maha Bounma Simmaphom well for the new year.
The clergyman also noted how, during the recent floods in Laos, volunteers from different religions – Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, and Bahá’ís – worked together to help those affected, offering a concrete example of interreligious solidarity. Although a personal visit, this meeting marked in a certain way the first visit by a Catholic delegation to the president of the Central Buddhist Fellowship Organisation of the Lao PDR.
Buddhist and government response
The Most Ven Maha Bounma Simmaphom expressed profound joy for the visit, highlighting the value of dialogue and collaboration between the two religious traditions. He also extended his blessings for the new year.
The Most Venerable Athipatay Maytryjit and Mr Bounthavy Phonethasine shared insights about Buddhism in Laos, noting that Buddhists represent over 65 per cent of the population, with approximately 30,000 monks.
The Catholic delegation gave the attendees an update about the activities of the Catholic community in Vientiane, including the upcoming episcopal ordination of Bishop-elect, the Most Rev Anthony Adoun Hongsaphong, the newly appointed Apostolic Vicar of Vientiane.
Visit to the Buddhist university
Following the meeting, the delegation was accompanied to the Buddhist University at Wat Ong Teu Mahavihan. This institution, which currently hosts about 120 students, dates back to 1929 when it was established as the Pariyatti Dhamma School by Prince Phetsarath and Somdet Phra Loukeo Uthen Sakda, the Supreme Patriarch of the Lao Sangha and the then Governor of Vientiane.
Originally located near the current Presidential Palace, the school taught subjects such as Dhamma, Vinaya, Pāḷi, the life of the Buddha, language, and mathematics. In 1996, it was renamed Sangha College and now offers degree programs in Education and Arts, under the patronage of the Ministry of Education and in collaboration with the Lao Front for National Development.
The other Buddhist university in Laos is the Champasak Sangha College, located in Champasak Province.
A sign of friendship and collaboration
The visit concluded with an exchange of gifts and a tour of other halls in the headquarters of the Central Buddhist Fellowship Organisation, including those of the Executive Board and the Standing Committee. The current Executive Board consists of 75 monks, 17 members of the Standing Committee, and four vice presidents.
This meeting represents a tangible sign of the mutual commitment between the two religious traditions to build a future of friendship and collaboration for the benefit of Laotian society as a whole.
.png)
