historic interreligious meeting in Vientiane

Venerable Maha Bounma Simmaphom received Fr. Daniele Mazza, PIME missionary, accompanied by three faithful from the apostolic vicariate of the Laotian capital, and in the presence of the vice director of the department of Religious Affairs. A meeting that took place in a personal capacity as an expression of a “spiritual friendship”, but which constitutes an important first time for the country.

Vientiane () – On January 8, 2025, in the Aram Thong Kham hall of Wat Pha That Luang in Vientiane, an important interreligious meeting took place between representatives of Buddhism and the Catholic community of Laos. Father Daniele Mazza, PIME missionary, together with three Catholics from the Apostolic Vicariate of Vientiane, was received by Venerable Phra Ajan Yai Maha Bounma Simmaphom, President of the Central Organization of Buddhists of the Democratic Republic of Laos, and by Venerable Athipatay Maytryjit, director general of the Central Administration of the same organization and president of the Metta Dhamma Project, along with a group of monks.

Also participating in the meeting was Mr. Bounthavy Phonethasine, deputy director general of the Department of Religious Affairs of the Lao Front for National Construction, accompanied by two officials from the department.

Father Mazza’s speech

In his speech, Fr. Mazza expressed great joy and gratitude for the kind and open welcome. He shared with those present that last December he had completed his doctorate in Buddhism at Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, and said that, during his studies, he formed deep bonds of friendship with monks from Laos. These relationships allowed him to more deeply appreciate Lao cultural values, better understand Buddhism, and at the same time deepen his Christian faith.

Father Daniele stressed the importance of an authentic search for truth, guided by deep friendships, which overcomes prejudices and favors sincere collaboration. He stated that Buddhist monks were his “Kalayanamitta” (spiritual friends), a fundamental concept in the Buddhist tradition, and expressed his hope that this meeting is only the first step towards deeper collaborations between religious traditions, especially between Buddhists and Christians. He also expressed his best wishes for the new year to Venerable Phra Ajan Yai Maha Bounma Simmaphom.

Finally, he recalled that, during the recent floods in Laos, volunteers from different religions – Buddhists, Christians, Muslims and Bahá’ís – collaborated to bring aid to the affected people, giving a concrete example of interreligious solidarity. Although it was a personal visit, this meeting is actually the first visit by a Catholic delegation to the president of the Central Organization of Buddhists of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

The Buddhist and government response

Venerable Maha Bounma Simmaphom expressed his deep joy at the visit, underscoring the value of dialogue and collaboration between the two religious traditions. He also wished all the blessings for the new year. Venerable Athipatay Maytryjit and Mr. Bounthavy Phonethasine then shared information about Buddhism in Laos, noting that the Buddhist population exceeds 65% of the inhabitants, with approximately 30 thousand monks. The Catholic delegation updated those present on the activities of the Catholic community in Vientiane, including the upcoming episcopal ordination of Bishop Anthony Adoun Hongsaphong, who has just been named the new apostolic vicar of Vientiane.

Visit to the Buddhist University

At the end of the meeting, the delegation was accompanied to visit the Buddhist University at Wat Ong Teu Mahavihan. The origins of this institution, which currently has about 120 students, date back to 1929, when it was founded as the Pariyatti Dhamma School by Prince Phetsarath and Somdet Phra Loukeo Uthen Sakda, supreme patriarch at that time of the Sangha Lao and governor of Vientiane. Initially the school was located near the current presidential palace, and taught subjects such as Dhamma, Vinaya, Pāḷi, the life of Buddha, language and mathematics. In 1996 it was renamed Sangha College and today offers degree programs in Education and Arts, sponsored by the Ministry of Education and in collaboration with the Lao Front for National Construction. The other Buddhist university in Laos is Champasak Sangha College, in Champasak province.

A sign of friendship and collaboration

The visit concluded with an exchange of gifts and a tour of other rooms in the Laos Buddhist Organization headquarters, such as those of the Executive Council and the Standing Committee. The current Executive Council is made up of 75 monks, with 17 members of the permanent Commission and four vice-presidents. This meeting represents a tangible sign of the reciprocal commitment between the two religious traditions to build a future of friendship and collaboration, for the benefit of the entire Lao society.