The Catholic Church of the Phnom Penh Vicariate in Cambodia organized the 8th Buddhist-Christian Colloquium under the theme, "Buddhists and Christians Working Together for Peace through Reconciliation and Resilience."
The event took place on the morning of May 27, 2025, at the Phnom Penh Vicariate Pastoral Center, with the high presence of Dr. Chay Borin, Minister of Cults and Religion; Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue of the Vatican; and representatives of both Buddhist denominations in Cambodia.
Also in attendance were cardinals, bishops, clergy, religious leaders, national and international guests, and Buddhist and Christian participants, totaling around 200 people.
Samdech Utdompanha Kittipundit Phong Duong, Vice President of the Supreme Council of the Cambodian Sangha and royal representative of Samdech Preah Maha Sumedhadhibbatei Kittipundit Om Lim Heng, Supreme Patriarch of the Mohanikaya Order, shared a powerful message.
He said that when individuals truly practice the Dharma of the Buddha, they cultivate virtue, justice, unity, compassion, mutual understanding, and dignity, avoiding mutual contempt. This, he emphasized, fosters peace, stability, religious harmony, and genuine development for humanity.
Vong Aneta, university rector, and Samdech Preah Mahasangharajah Bour Kry highlighted the shared values of the two faiths.
He noted that Buddhism teaches compassion, patience, and insight, while Christianity emphasizes love, humility, and forgiveness — values that support peaceful coexistence and cooperation for the common good of humanity.
Koovakad addressed the participants, stating that peace begins in the heart and has the power to transform the world. He called reconciliation and resilience powerful forces in healing a broken world and emphasized that true faith demands compassion in the face of suffering and courage against injustice.
“When the world grows numb to the cries of the displaced and exploited,” he said, “our gathering must be a living witness that peace is still possible.”
He urged participants to reject apathy, choose hope, and become artisans of healing — not just in words but in action, bridging what violence, prejudice, and greed have torn apart.
Koovakad emphasized that the spiritual power of reconciliation and resilience can overcome barriers when people listen, act, and love beyond borders.
“If we unite in the Holy Spirit and break free from the chains of ideology, we can say, ‘No to war, yes to peace; no to destruction, yes to healing.’”
On that occasion, Dr. Chay Borin, Minister of Cults and Religion, praised the Catholic Church's mission in Cambodia for promoting interreligious harmony.
He described the colloquium as highly significant, not only for encouraging mutual understanding and respect but also for strengthening national unity and contributing to global religious harmony.
Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh, emphasized the importance of four types of dialogue at the heart of the meeting:
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Dialogue of life
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Dialogue of action
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Dialogue of theological exchange
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Dialogue of religious experience
He expressed deep gratitude for the peace in Cambodia, calling it a remarkable model for the region and the world.
“Peace is not merely the absence of conflict,” he said, “but the active presence of justice, compassion, and dialogue—reconciliation expressed through daily life and coexistence in fraternity and harmony.”
Olivier also noted that the presence of government officials and the highest Buddhist monastic representatives was a clear sign of peace in the nation.
“Today in Cambodia,” he said, “each religion journeys together to help people live with compassion and build a society grounded in hope.”
Since the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Holy See in 1994, the Catholic Church in Cambodia has played a key role in national reconciliation and interreligious dialogue.
Rooted in the spirit of Pope Paul VI’s Second Vatican Council declaration Nostra Aetate released in 1965—which recognized Buddhism as a profound spiritual path to liberation — this international colloquium, first held in 1995, continues to bring together monks, priests, nuns, scholars, and peacebuilders for shared dialogue, reflection, and cooperation in the service of peace.
The last Buddhist-Christian Colloquium in 2023 was held in Bangkok, Thailand with the theme “healing a wounded humanity and the earth.”
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