Asian interfaith dialogue in Vatican’s sights

(July 19, 2010) The Vatican wants to understand interfaith relations in Asia better so it can collaborate with local Churches for more effective dialogue, says a Vatican-based Thai priest. “Asia is an important continent as it is the birthplace of the major religions. The Vatican wants to listen to and learn from the Church in Asia,” said Monsignor Andrew Vissanu Thanya-anan, undersecretary of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue’s Buddhism desk. The priest was speaking to Ucanews after a July 12-18 closed-door meeting between the council and its Asian members and consulters. Thirty-six Church officials from the Vatican and 17 Asian countries and territories participated in the meeting held in Sam Phran, outside Bangkok. The Asian Church officials, mostly bishops, reported on Christian dialogue in their areas with Buddhists, Confucians, Hindus, Jains, Muslims, Shintoists and Sikhs. Monsignor Vissanu said the Vatican will evaluate all the reports and discussions and plan better support strategies for interfaith dialogue through episcopal conferences. He noted that the last such meeting was held eight years ago in South Korea. Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran the president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue led a Vatican delegation to the weeklong meeting in Thailand.