The Diocese of Ratchaburi has announced a historic gesture of interfaith respect and friendship, highlighting a rare moment of unity between religious traditions.
Thailand’s 20th Buddhist Supreme Patriarch, His Holiness Somdet Phra Ariyavongsagatayana, Abbot of Ratchabophit Sathitmahasimaram Temple in Bangkok, extended a personal message mourning the passing of retired Bishop John Bosco Panya Kritcharoen.
Bishop Kritcharoen, a deeply cherished spiritual leader known for his compassion and dedication to service, passed away on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025.
The Supreme Patriarch’s message reflects a profound acknowledgment of the late bishop’s contributions to fostering interfaith harmony and mutual respect in their shared community:
“Bishop John Bosco Panya Kritcharoen has performed various duties for the country and the religion to which he dedicated his life. He is also very friendly and respected. He has kindly visited me both as a fellow Ratchaburi resident and as a senior priest in the Roman Catholic Church, in the position of the Bishop of Ratchaburi Diocese. He has always made me happy in his friendship and created friendship among Buddhists and Christians. He is considered a great person who has helped this world flourish with kindness and mercy, which is a common principle of both religions.”
Buddhist Supreme Patriarch, Somdet Phra Ariyavangsagatayana, Abbot of Ratchabophit Sathitmahasimaram Temple
This marks the first time the Buddhist Supreme Patriarch has sent a personal condolence message to the Catholic Church in Thailand.

Bishop Silvio Siripong Charatsri of Ratchaburi, expressed gratitude for this extraordinary gesture.
“This is a very high honor for us. The Supreme Patriarch’s personal message shows respect and friendship, helping to deepen dialogue and strengthen the relationship between our religious traditions,” he told LiCAS News.
Legacy of dialogue and encounter
Bishop Kritcharoen was instrumental in fostering interreligious dialogue, a mission echoed by Pope Francis during his historic 2019 visit to Thailand.
At the start of his visit, Pope Francis met the Supreme Patriarch at his temple and emphasized the significance of the dialogue between Buddhism and Christianity, recalling the 1971 meeting of Buddhist monks with Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II’s visit to Thailand.

“These are small steps which help testify that the culture of encounter is possible,” Pope Francis said, highlighting the power of mutual respect in a world prone to conflict and division.
Message from Pope Francis
On behalf of Pope Francis, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of the Vatican’s Secretariat of State, conveyed a message of condolence to the Diocese of Ratchaburi, which was read during Bishop Kritcharoen’s funeral on Saturday, January 11, by Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Peter Brian Wells:
“His Holiness Pope Francis was saddened to learn of the death of Bishop Emeritus John Bosco Panya Kritcharoen, and he sends condolences to you, the clergy, religious, and lay faithful of the Diocese. Recalling with gratitude his many years of devoted priestly and episcopal ministry to the Church in Ratchaburi, marked by care for the poor and most vulnerable as well as a joyful Christian witness in the midst of suffering, His Holiness commends the late Bishop’s soul to the mercy of Christ the Good Shepherd. To all present for the Funeral Mass and all who mourn his loss in the sure hope of the resurrection, the Holy Father imparts his blessings as a pledge of consolation and peace in the Lord.”
Bishop Kritcharoen will be remembered for his tireless service to the Diocese of Ratchaburi, his compassionate care for the poor, and his commitment to building bridges of understanding and friendship between Buddhists and Christians in Thailand.
