A delegation of 80 members from the United Association of Humanistic Buddhism Chunghua with over 200 Buddhism groups Taiwan visited the Vatican to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the pivotal document that redefined Catholic Church’s relations with non-Christian faiths.
This delegation was the only Chinese Buddhist group that received an invitation to attend this ceremony which put Buddhism on the world stage. A grand ceremony attended by over 100,000 people was held at the St. Peter’s Square, where the delegation met with Pope Leo XIV.
Venerable Yi Kong, Executive Director of the United Association Humanistic Buddhism Chunghua and Director of the Fo Guang Shan (FGS) Institute of Culture said, though the visit served as a ceremonial occasion, it also showcased the growing significance of Chinese Buddhism worldwide.
Venerable Yi Kong who visited the Vatican for third visit with this delegation commended the Pope for being patient, attentive and for engaging genuinely with people without discrimination.
“When we speak of humanistic Buddhism, I see in them a kind of humanistic Catholicism,” Venerable Yi Kong said. Venerable Yi Kong who is also a scholar of Buddhist culture, praised the Catholic Church’s organisational strength and its emphasis on education and qualities. Venerable Yi Kong also suggested the establishment of a long-term collaboration with Vatican academic bodies. She also stated that interreligious dialogue should not stop at Buddhism and Christianity, arguing that in a world that sees increasing conflicts, faith communities must stand as sources of clarity and hope.
The delegation headed by FGS Chief Abbot Venerable Hsin Bao, who is also the President of the United Association of Humanistic Buddhism Chunghua, presented three meaningful gifts to Pope Leo XIV, that included a gemstone portrait made by young girls from a Myanmar orphanage supported by the Association, a unique ceramic chalice fashioned using techniques from the Song Dynasty, and a calligraphy scroll created by the late Venerable Master Hsing Yun.
The presentation of these gifts, witnessed by the Vatican gathering, was a representation of shared values across religions – peace, harmony and the call to uplift humanity.
