November 13 - Pope Francis mourns death of Thai Buddhist patriarch

Pope Francis has sent his condolences to the council of leading Buddhists in Thailand on the death of their Supreme Patriarch, Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara. The head of Buddhist monks in Thailand had died Oct. 24 from a blood infection at Chulalongkorn hospital, where he had been undergoing treatment for some years. The patriarch was 100 years old.

“His Holiness Pope Francis conveys … to all the Buddhist Brothers and Sisters in the Kingdom of Thailand his most sincere condolences, assuring them of his spiritual closeness at this very sad time,” wrote Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, in a Nov. 4 message.

Cardinal Tauran continued, voicing hope that the memory of the Supreme Patriarch may “be a support for those who are now in sorrow and an encouragement for those who will benefit (from) his spiritual legacy.”

The Thai government has declared a month of national mourning for the Supreme Patriarch, who is appointed by the Thai king. The government has canceled festivities for the time being, and has asked that Catholics pray for the soul of the country's late religious leader.

Monsignor Andrew Vissanu Thanya Anan, deputy secretary general of the Thai bishops' conference, told EWTN News Nov. 8 that “the Catholic Church was established in the Kingdom of Thailand in 1656, and our relationship and friendship gradually developed a good sense, especially after Vatican II.”

Twice, he said, in 1971 and 1972, Somdet Phra Vannarat led a delegation of Buddhist monks to meet Pope Paul VI. And in 1984, Blessed Pope John Paul II came to Thailand and visited the previous Supreme Patriarch, Somdet Phra Ariyavong Sakatayana.

Monsignor Vissanu highlighted that this “inter-religious dialogue and friendship” with the Buddhist community has been a “milestone” for the growth of Catholic missions in the region.  “We have to establish strong harmonious relationships,” he said, and this is imperative as “we still find persecutions of missionaries in some parts of Asia.”