During a special audience in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV met with a broad gathering of Buddhists and other religious leaders from around the world and reaffirmed his commitment to Christian unity and interfaith dialogue. The occasion marked one of the first major public engagements of Pope Leo’s papacy, which began earlier this month following the passing of Pope Francis in March.

The event brought together leaders from various Christian denominations, including Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem, and Catholicos Awa III of the Assyrian Church of the East, along with Anglican, Methodist, and Lutheran representatives.

“With great joy I extend my cordial greetings to all of you, representatives of other Churches and ecclesial communities, as well as of other religions, who participated in the inaugural celebration of my ministry as Bishop of Rome and Successor of Peter.” (Vatican)

In addition to Buddhists, religious leaders from Jain, Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh communities were present, reflecting the Vatican’s ongoing commitment to multi-faith engagement. The pope’s message emphasized bridge-building in a divided world.

“Our common path can and must also be understood in the broad sense of involving everyone in the spirit of human fraternity. . . . Now is the time for dialogue and building bridges,” he told those gathered. “I am therefore pleased and grateful for the presence of representatives of other religious traditions, who share the search for God and his will, which is always and only the will of love and life for men and women and for all creatures.” (Vatican)

The new pontiff also affirmed his intention to continue Pope Francis’ efforts to promote synodality—the process of shared discernment and inclusive dialogue within the Catholic Church. He linked synodality closely with ecumenical progress, stating that “new and concrete forms” of synodal collaboration would be explored with other Christian communities, noting: “You have witnessed the remarkable efforts made by Pope Francis in favor of interreligious dialogue. Through his words and actions, he opened new avenues of encounter, to promote ‘the culture of dialogue as the path; mutual collaboration as the code of conduct; reciprocal understanding as the method and standard.’” (Vatican)

Pope Leo acknowledged the religious diversity represented in the audience and called for united action against global crises. “In a world wounded by violence and conflict,” he said, “each of the communities represented here brings its own contribution of wisdom, compassion, and commitment to the good of humanity and the preservation of our common home.”  (National Catholic Reporter)

Going further, the pope urged all to continue their activism: “I am convinced that if we are in agreement, and free from ideological and political conditioning, we can be effective in saying ‘no’ to war and ‘yes’ to peace, ‘no’ to the arms race and ‘yes’ to disarmament, ‘no’ to an economy that impoverishes peoples and the Earth and ‘yes’ to integral development.” (Vatican)

For Buddhist observers, the Vatican’s reaffirmation of interfaith dialogue is significant. While Catholic-Buddhist relations are often less public than other dialogues, past papacies have promoted mutual understanding through shared values such as compassion, peace, and nonviolence. As Pope Leo steps into his new role, Buddhist communities worldwide will likely watch for continuity and expansion in this relationship.

Christian-Buddhist dialogue has been a part of the Vatican’s outreach since the Second Vatican Council, with efforts intensified under Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis. The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue has engaged Buddhist communities in Asia, Europe, and North America, focusing on shared ethical concerns and joint action on issues such as climate change, poverty, and inner transformation.

With more than 500 million adherents worldwide, Buddhism remains one of the key global faiths in the Vatican’s interreligious efforts. In countries such as Japan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam, Buddhist-Christian interactions often occur in the context of local social cooperation and shared humanitarian goals.

Former Buddhist monk and contemporary scholar, Dr. Boonchuay Doojai, chairman of the Thai Interfaith Foundation for Social Development, praised the pope’s commitment to further his predecessor’s work: “He is clearly following in the footsteps of Pope Francis, yet he is also charting his own course—honoring tradition while embracing change. He reminds us that a new pope brings not just continuity but also a renewed direction.” (Vatican News)

See more

Address Of The Holy Father To Representatives Of Other Churches And Ecclesial Communities, And Other Religions (Vatican)
Pope reaffirms commitment to ecumenical, interreligious dialogue (National Catholic Reporter)
Thai Buddhist scholar reflects on Pope Leo XIV’s call for peace, unity (Vatican News)
Unione Buddhista Italiana (Facebook)

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