Religious and civic leaders in Thailand called for dialogue, justice, respect for human dignity and care for creation during an interreligious gathering marking the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi and four decades since the World Day of Prayer for Peace.
The Oct. 3 gathering at the Shrine of Blessed Nicholas Bunkerd Kitbamrung on the western outskirts of Bangkok brought together civic representatives, Christian leaders and representatives of other religious traditions.
The Office of Interreligious Dialogue of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand organized and hosted the gathering as part of worldwide observances honoring St. Francis and recalling the interreligious peace gathering convened by Pope John Paul II in Assisi in October 1986.
Pope Leo XIV proclaimed a yearlong Franciscan Jubilee from Jan. 10, 2026, to Jan. 10, 2027, commemorating the Transitus, or the passing from earthly to eternal life, of St. Francis on Oct. 3, 1226.
The Vatican’s Apostolic Penitentiary has also granted plenary indulgences to pilgrims visiting designated Franciscan churches during the observance.
The commemorations also mark 40 years since Pope John Paul II gathered 160 religious leaders in Assisi to fast and pray side by side.
This year’s observances, guided by the Vatican Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue and lay movements including the Community of Sant’Egidio, are anchored in Pope Leo’s peace theme, “Unarmed and Disarming Peace.”
Bishop Silvio Siripong Charatsri told participants that peace should be rooted in human dignity, dialogue, justice and responsibility for the environment.
“In the eyes of God, all human beings are brothers and sisters, and peace arises from cooperation based on four pillars: respect for human dignity, particularly through caring for the underprivileged; sincere and mutually respectful dialogue; the establishment of justice and forgiveness; and the shared stewardship of nature and the environment,” he said.
Suwit Salamteh, speaking on behalf of Thailand’s Muslim community, urged people of different faiths to overcome suspicion and build relationships based on mutual respect.
“Despite religious differences, we must love one another; even if we live on different continents or in different worlds, and especially as we share life within Thai society, we must treat each other with mutual respect and love,” he said.
Salamteh warned that conflict and suspicion in society were often driven by efforts to undermine others.
“Let us not harbor aversion; instead, let us extend goodwill to one another,” he said. “In the spirit of Islam, I invite all of you to join in building a Thai society that is filled with love, compassion, and understanding.”
Thitima Supphapak of the Department of Religious Affairs said peace involves more than the absence of conflict.
“Peace is inner tranquility, the acceptance of diversity, and forgiveness,” Supphapak said, adding that the gathering reflected “the power of religion to foster harmony” and the example of St. Francis in maintaining “an open and courteous heart.”
Youth participants also stressed individual responsibility in building peaceful communities.
“Differences need not lead to conflict, as everyone shares a fundamental desire for understanding, a meaningful life, and peace,” a youth representative said.
The representative said peace begins “within our families, classrooms, and communities” through listening, avoiding judgment, being mindful of words and viewing faith “not as a barrier, but as a bridge.”
Delegates, including Buddhist monk Venerable Phra Pramote Vathakovitho, also affirmed that diversity need not be a source of division and that genuine dialogue should seek mutual understanding rather than forced consensus.
The gathering concluded with a Thanksgiving Mass presided over by Archbishop Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand and archbishop of Bangkok.
The commemorations continued that evening in Samut Prakan, where a new parish hosted a Transitus vigil and liturgies recalling the final hours and death of St. Francis.
The weekend observance culminated Oct. 4 at the newly opened St. Francis of Assisi Church on Bangkok’s eastern outskirts, following a weeklong series of special Mass intentions and prayer gatherings.
Cardinal Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij, retired archbishop of Bangkok, presided over the Eucharistic celebration honoring St. Francis and his legacy of peace, fraternity, and care for creation.
