Laotian monks in the Vatican: First visit in over 50 years

Rome (AsiaNews) – As is customary, major anniversaries offer the opportunity to reflect upon the past; in this case, it is the 40^th anniversary of the Day of Prayer for Peace in Assisi, launched by John Paul II.

To remember the presence of a Laotian delegation, one has to look back even further, for the first and only visit to the Vatican. On 8 June 1973, the Supreme Buddhist Patriarch of Laos, Dhammayana Maha Thera Phra Buddhajinorot, met with Pope Paul VI.

On that occasion, the pontiff expressed the following hope: “May an increasingly cordial dialogue and closer collaboration flourish between the ancient traditions you represent and the Catholic Church. The latter is present and active in your country as well; though still small, with a presence that is almost symbolic, it nonetheless fully shares in both your sufferings and your hopes, with no other purpose than to love and to serve” (Paul VI, address to the Supreme Patriarch of the Buddhists of Laos, 8 June 1973).

This visit is immortalised in an iconic painting that greets guests at the entrance to the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue; in it, alongside Pope Paul VI, one can see the Supreme Patriarch, Dhammayana Maha Thera Phra Buddhajinorot, and various other religious leaders.

This October, 53 years later, a Catholic-Buddhist delegation arrived in Rome from an Asian country that still lacks full diplomatic relations with the Holy See and is home to a small Catholic community of approximately 50,000 faithful.

The delegation is led by the Most Venerable Athipatay Maytryjit, vice-president of the Central Buddhist Fellowship Organisation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, and the Apostolic Vicar of Vientiane, Bishop Adoun Hongsaphong. Accompanying them are three members of the Sangha (monastic community) and two priests, as well as Father Daniele Mazza, Vicar General of PIME.

Yesterday, the delegation had the opportunity of greeting Pope Leo XIV during the general audience, an experience they described as deeply moving. This visit follows the first-ever participation of a Buddhist delegation from Laos in the prayer for peace held in Assisi on Tuesday.

For the monks, this was their first opportunity to see so many religious leaders from diverse traditions gathered together. “Religions are different, but with an open heart, we understand one another,” said the Most Venerable Maytryjit.

Yesterday, the group concluded their day by meeting with the Community of Sant’Egidio in Rome for an occasion of mutual acquaintance, prayer, and solidarity.

“In the Buddhist tradition, a husband and wife offer food to monks together, based on the idea that when you do good together, you receive joy together,” said Father Mazza, who spent many years in Thailand and is an expert in Buddhism.

This desire to do good together led the bishop and the Most Venerable monk to present a financial contribution to the Italian-language school run by the Community of Sant’Egidio, which they visited that afternoon, along with a painting featuring a symbol of Laos.

After meeting with migrant and refugee students, who study at the school free of charge, thanks to the service provided by volunteers, and listening to their stories, the monks chanted a blessing for the students’ good fortune and success, and the bishop offered his blessing.

The afternoon continued with a period of meditation and prayer: one was led by the Most Venerable Maytryjit, joined by a small group from the Community of Sant’Egidio, followed by participation in the Community’s evening prayer service at the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere.

Before the Buddhist meditation began, the vice-president of the Central Buddhist Fellowship Organisation invited the bishop to sit in the front row alongside the monks, a gesture of spiritual closeness that honoured their respective traditions.

The evening ended in the great basilica with Christian prayer.

“[T]he mount of the LORD’s house Shall be established as the highest mountain; it shall be raised above the hills, And peoples shall stream to it,” reads the passage from the prophet Micah that was shared during the service.

At a time when swords are multiplying rather than being beaten into ploughshares (Micah 4:3), the decision by the Catholic-Buddhist delegation from Laos to embark on a journey together, taking the time to know one another, to pray side-by-side and for each other, stands as a sign of hope for better times.

Today, the delegation continueditsvisit,travellingtoCassino, where it will participate in a conference titledDisarming Conflicts Building Peace Buddhist, Christian and academic perspectives on dialogue and reconciliation, before departing from Italy.