Thailand’s Buddhist community honored the late Pope Francis with a solemn memorial service on the evening of April 29 at Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimonmangkalaram—commonly known as Wat Pho—one of Bangkok’s most revered royal temples.
The service underscored the deep spiritual respect shared between the Catholic Church and Thai Buddhism, and the late pontiff’s legacy of compassion, dialogue, and peace.
Held in the historic temple renowned for its majestic Reclining Buddha and its long-standing relationship with the Catholic Church, the memorial was attended by leading Buddhist monks and senior representatives of the Catholic Church in Thailand.
Among them were Archbishop Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand (CBCT); Bishop Joseph Chusak Sirisut, CBCT Secretary; Bishop Silvio Siripong Charatsri of Ratchaburi; and Archbishop Peter Bryan Wells, Apostolic Nuncio to Thailand.
The temple’s abbot, Somdet Phra Maha Thirachan—Supreme Patriarch of the North and a member of the Supreme Sangha Council—reflected on the enduring friendship between Thai Buddhism and the Vatican, which dates back to 1972, when the former abbot of this temple, Somdet Phra Wannarat, met Pope Paul VI in Rome.
“Our relationship with the Catholic Church has flourished for more than five decades,” said the abbot.
“I had the opportunity to meet Pope Francis twice, in 2022 and again in 2024. Each time, he welcomed me with the warmth of an old friend. He once said to me, ‘We are like older brothers—we were born in the same year.’”
Describing Pope Francis as a man of great compassion and spiritual virtue, the abbot likened him to a mighty tree providing shade and sustenance to all.
“He was like a large tree with deep roots, wide branches, and abundant fruit—a refuge for the weary, a source of strength for those in need,” he said. “He lived for the benefit of the many, offering kindness, peace, and joy to people around the world.”
The memorial included traditional Pali Buddhist chants and a moment of silent prayer shared by Buddhist and Catholic participants alike—a moving symbol of unity in mourning.
Archbishop Vira, representing the Catholic Church in Thailand, expressed his deepest gratitude to the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand for granting this rare and gracious gesture.
“This memorial service is a symbol of the excellent friendship between Buddhism and Roman Catholicism—a relationship that has become a culture of mutual respect and compassion,” he said.
Quoting both Scripture and Pope Francis, the archbishop recalled the pope’s message to the monks of Wat Pho during their 2024 visit to the Vatican: “Those who are firmly rooted in their religion and are ready to work with everyone can bring a ray of hope to a hopeless humanity.”
Archbishop Vira continued, “With Pope Francis’s legacy of peace and goodwill, we are strengthened in our mission to do good, as Scripture says: ‘Do not become weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up.’” (Gal. 6:9)
Pope Francis’s historic visit to Thailand in 2019, during which he met the Supreme Patriarch and Buddhist leaders, helped forge stronger interreligious ties.
His consistent outreach to Buddhists—including receiving a large delegation of Wat Pho monks in 2024—was marked by mutual respect and a shared call to build a more inclusive and compassionate world.
As the world continues to mourn the loss of a pope who championed the poor, the marginalized, and interfaith understanding, Thai Buddhists have shown that the language of compassion knows no religious boundary.
The memory of Pope Francis now lives on not only in the hearts of Catholics, but also in the prayers of Thailand’s Buddhists, who joined their Catholic brethren in honoring a shepherd of mercy and hope.
Catholic bishops and senior monks of Wat Pho pose for a group photo following the interfaith memorial service for Pope Francis at Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimonmangkalaram (Wat Pho) in Bangkok, April 29, 2025. Photo by LiCAS News
