Eighth Buddhist-Christian Colloquium

Buddhists and Christians Working Together for Peace

through Reconciliation and Resilience

at the Catholic Pastoral Center, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

27-29 May 2025

Final Statement

The Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, in collaboration with Preah Sihanouk Raja Buddhist University and the Catholic Church in the Kingdom of Cambodia, convened the Eighth Buddhist-Christian Colloquium in Phnom Penh from 27-29 May 2025. The event was held under the theme “Buddhists and Christians Working Together for Peace through Reconciliation and Resilience.”

Gathering approximately 150 Buddhist and Christian participants from Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, the United States, and the Holy See—along with two representatives from the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences—the Colloquium was a testimony to the shared desire for peace and mutual understanding. The opening ceremony was honored by the presence of the Minister of Cult and Religion of the Kingdom of Cambodia and other religious leaders in Cambodia.

As the event draws to its close, the participants want to express the following sentiments and resolutions:

We, the Buddhist and Christian participants, met in Phnom Penh—a land profoundly shaped by the compassionate witness of His Holiness Maha Ghosananda—to reflect on our sacred texts, spiritual teachings, and lived experiences as sources of healing and hope for a world fractured by violence, injustice, and exploitation.

During these days, we have prayed, visited one another’s places of worship, studied and encountered one another in a spirit of mutual respect and friendship. Our conversations were marked by attentive listening and the discovery of shared wisdom: both traditions call for the transformation of hearts and societies through compassion and truth.

“Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal law” (Dhammapada 5). Drawing from the Buddhist tradition, we are inspired by the practices of Metta (loving-kindness), Karuna (compassion), and mindful detachment—paths that cultivate inner peace and foster harmony within society. The life and witness of countless Buddhist practitioners, especially His Holiness Maha Ghosananda—revered as the “Gandhi of Cambodia”—remind us that even the most painful wounds of history can be transformed through compassion, wisdom, and spiritual resilience.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). From the Christian tradition, we find strength in the Gospel call to forgiveness and reconciliation. Jesus’ invitation to love one’s enemies and to respond to violence with mercy continues to guide Christian efforts toward peace and justice. The enduring witness of martyrs and peacemakers, who held fast to faith amid suffering and injustice, enriches our shared vision of a resilience grounded in hope and love.

Together, we affirm that:

● Reconciliation is not the erasure of memory but a courageous process of truth-telling, healing, and the restoration of relationships;

● Resilience is nurtured by inner strength, rooted in faith and sustained by communities that uphold the dignity of every person;

● Building peace requires addressing the deeper causes of conflict—poverty, environmental degradation, social injustice, and the denial of human rights;

● Our respective religious traditions offer profound ethical and spiritual resources to face today’s challenges with compassion, courage, and hope.

We recognize the essential role of education in forming new generations in the values of nonviolence, dialogue, and interreligious cooperation. We also affirm the responsibility of religious leaders and communities to embody reconciliation in practical ways: by standing with the suffering, promoting justice, and cultivating inner peace.

As we return to our homes and regions, we carry with us:

● A renewed commitment to walk together as friends and spiritual companions;

● A deepened appreciation for one another’s traditions and wisdom;

● A shared resolve to be instruments of peace, healing, and hope in a wounded world.

With heartfelt gratitude to the people of Cambodia—especially the Apostolic Vicariate of Phnom Penh, Buddhist leaders, national authorities, and other organizers—for their generous hospitality, and in reverent memory of all who have suffered and continue to rise above adversity through resilience, we dedicate the fruits of this Colloquium to the flourishing of a world where peace is more than the absence of conflict. We envision peace as the active presence of love, justice, and enduring human solidarity.

We pledge to bring to life the insights and commitments born of these days through ongoing dialogue and concrete collaboration in our respective communities and regions.

Participants of the Eighth Buddhist-Christian Colloquium

Phnom Penh, 29 May 2025