Eighth Buddhist-Christian Colloquium Opens in Cambodia with Focus on Peace and Reconciliation

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Eighth Buddhist-Christian Colloquium Opens in Cambodia with Focus on Peace and Reconciliation

By Justin Whitaker
May 27, 2025

The Eighth Buddhist-Christian Colloquium opened in Cambodia today, bringing together some 150 religious leaders, scholars, and monastics from 16 countries to promote peace, reconciliation, and interfaith collaboration. The international event, being held in Phnom Penh from 27–29 May, is jointly organized by the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue of the Holy See, the Bishops’ Conference of Cambodia, and several Buddhist universities and monastic communities across the country.

Under the title, “Buddhists and Christians Working Together for Peace through Reconciliation and Resilience,” the colloquium seeks to foster mutual understanding between the two traditions and examine the potential of religious teachings and practice to address contemporary violence and division.

According to a statement released by the Vatican’s press office: “In a world ravaged by conflict and violence, this colloquium is a timely reminder of the power of religion not only to prevent violence but also to foster healing, reconciliation, and resilience.” (Vatican News)

Participants include representatives from the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), Buddhist delegates from across Asia, and guests from other regions. The event offers space for dialogue on sacred texts, spiritual practices, and lived experiences that contribute to non-violence and peacemaking.

The Vatican has hosted a series of these interfaith meetings since the early 1990s, emphasizing the need for joint action and spiritual solidarity. The colloquium builds on the momentum of the previous gathering held in Bangkok on 13–16 November 2023. That event focused on “healing a wounded humanity and the Earth,” and concluded with a commitment to deepen grassroots cooperation between Buddhist and Christian communities.*

The decision to hold this year’s gathering in Cambodia is particularly symbolic. The country bears the legacy of immense suffering under the Khmer Rouge regime (1975–79), during which nearly two million people died, including a majority of the country’s monastics. This year the colloquium honors the memory and work of His Holiness Maha Ghosananda, a prominent Cambodian Buddhist monk and peace advocate who became known for his annual Dhammayatra, or peace walks, across Cambodia in the 1990s. Maha Ghosananda was widely respected nationally and internationally for his efforts to rebuild Cambodian Buddhism and promote reconciliation through spiritual nonviolence.

“Held in a land marked by the legacy of His Holiness Maha Ghosananda, this international gathering will explore how sacred texts, spiritual teachings, and lived experiences can offer healing and hope,” the Dicastery stated. (Vatican News)

Christian leaders at the colloquium include representatives from the Cambodian Catholic Church and the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, which have supported interfaith initiatives throughout the region. Buddhist participants include monks and scholars from Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana traditions, reflecting the diversity of Buddhism in Asia.

Maha Ghosananda. From indcatholicnews.com

While there is strong support among religious leaders for continued dialogue, challenges remain. Some observers have noted the difficulty of translating interreligious goodwill into concrete action on the ground. Nonetheless, events such as the colloquium serve as a visible commitment to religious harmony.

As the Eighth Buddhist-Christian Colloquium continues, participants will engage in lectures, panel discussions, and small-group dialogues centered on building ties between the two religions. A final joint statement is expected to be released at the conclusion of the event, outlining key insights and proposed actions for Buddhist-Christian cooperation in the years ahead.

Buddhism is practiced by 97 per cent of Cambodia’s population, primarily within the Theravada tradition. Christianity remains a minority religion, with the Catholic community estimated at as many as 75,000 adherents, mostly made up by people of Vietnamese descent. Despite differences in numbers, leaders from both traditions have emphasized their shared ethical commitments and the potential of spiritual collaboration.

* Buddhist-Christian Colloquium in Thailand Calls for Compassion and Joint Action (BDG)

Justin Whitaker

Dr. Justin Whitaker is a Senior Correspondent for Buddhistdoor Global (BDG). Previously, he was a visiting instructor at Hong Kong University's Centre for Buddhist Studies. He holds a PhD from the University of London, where his work on comparative philosophy focused on early Buddhist ideas and the ethics of Immanuel Kant (1724-1804). He is the author of “Reflecting on Meditation’s Ethics: Ignatian ‘Spiritual Exercises’ and Buddhist ‘Mettā-Bhāvanā’,” (Journal of Inter-Religious Studies, 2014) and co-author with Douglass Smith of "Reading the Buddha as a Philosopher" (Philosophy East and West, 2016) and "Ethics, Meditation, and Wisdom" in the Oxford Handbook of Buddhist Ethics, 2018. He currently lives in Missoula, Montana with his wife, daughter, and their cat after an exciting two years living in Hong Kong. His column, Western Dharma, is published occasionally.

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