Kuching to Host Vatican Taoist-Christian Colloquium in 2027 After Landmark Seoul Dialogue

The Vatican's Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue will host the Fourth Taoist-Christian Colloquium in Kuching, Malaysia, in mid-2027, following new momentum in interfaith engagement generated by the first-ever Confucian-Christian Colloquium held in Seoul, South Korea.

The announcement was shared with Radio Veritas Asia by Archbishop Simon Poh of Kuching, who participated in the inaugural Confucian-Christian gathering on August 4-5 alongside Taoist-Confucian leader Ethan Tan Kok Chiang from Kuching.

Archbishop Poh described the Seoul meeting as a valuable opportunity to deepen mutual understanding among Asia's religious traditions and strengthen collaboration on issues affecting society.

"In Asia, Catholics live alongside followers of many faiths. The Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) refers to these as our 'neighboring religions,'" Archbishop Poh said.

He expressed gratitude to the Vatican Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue for organizing the colloquium, saying the discussions and personal exchanges gave him a deeper appreciation of Confucianism.

"I came to understand that Confucianism is distinctly different from Taoism, even though both traditions share important values such as family life and filial respect," he said.

The archbishop said the gathering reaffirmed friendship and mutual respect between Christians and Confucians while opening new opportunities for a "dialogue of life" and a "dialogue of action."

He noted that participants identified several areas for future collaboration, including responding to climate change, addressing the dehumanizing impact of artificial intelligence, and promoting the common good.

Following further discussions after the Seoul meeting, Archbishop Poh said the Taoist Association and the Catholic Church in Kuching have agreed to provide the venue for the Vatican's Fourth Taoist-Christian Colloquium in mid-June 2027.

"We believe this will deepen our friendship and mutual respect, enabling both religions to contribute to the common good, harmony, peace, and nation-building in today's world," he said.

According to Vatican News, the first Confucian-Christian Colloquium brought together scholars, religious leaders, educators, and practitioners from Asia, Europe, and North America under the theme, "New Heaven, New Earth and Great Harmony (Great Unity): Confucian-Christian Dialogue for Building an Ideal Society." Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences

The meeting was jointly organized by the Vatican dicastery, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea, the Confucian Academy of Korea, and Sogang University. Vatican News reported that participants affirmed that "authentic encounter does not erase differences, but instead deepens understanding, strengthens trust, and enriches us all." They also committed themselves to continued cooperation in research, education, youth engagement, and practical initiatives promoting justice, peace, environmental stewardship, and ethical responses to emerging technologies.

The Vatican also announced that the second and third Confucian-Christian Colloquia are planned for 2028 and 2030, while the 2027 Taoist-Christian Colloquium in Kuching will further expand the Holy See's dialogue with Asia's religious traditions, reflecting the Church's continuing commitment to fostering harmony and peace through interreligious friendship.