13th Interfaith Meeting: Holistic Human Development (Oct. 27,2013)

“We are all brothers and sisters, children of one God, one Supreme Being. It is a great joy for us to be here today, sitting and laughing together for the 13th consecutive time, while such a union has hardly happened in many wealthy and advanced countries.”

This is a statement by Joseph Nguyen Nang, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Saigon in his opening address at the 13th Interfaith Meeting, themed 'Holistic Human Development”, held at the Saigon Pastoral Institute on October 27, 2023.

The meeting brought together dignitaries and officials from various religions, including Catholicism, Caodaism, Buddhism, Hoa Hao Buddhism, Minh Ly, the Baháʼí Faith, and Islam, along with a priest from the Philippines, and a representative of the Focolare Movement.

Representing the host were Archbishop Joseph Nguyen Nang; Bishop Joseph Chau Ngoc Tri of the Archdiocese of Lang Son; Father Francis Bao Loc, Head of the Commission for Interfaith Dialogue, together with clergy, consecrated religious, and lay faithful.

Archbishop Joseph opened the meeting with a brief reflection on the current global context, noting that while people are preoccupied with intellectual and scientific development, they neglect spiritual and holistic human development, leading to widespread wars marked by hatred and violence. “Therefore, as we gather here today, Pope Francis has called on people around the world to dedicate a day to fasting and praying for world peace,” he said.

The Archbishop reiterated the words of Pope Francis, spoken during his meeting with representatives of major religions in Mongolia on September 2: 'We are all brothers and sisters in one family, children of one God, one Supreme Being.'

After Archbishop Joseph Nguyen Nang and Bishop Joseph Chau Ngoc Tri unveiled the logo, a short video offering a glimpse back at the 12 previous interfaith meetings was shown. The first interfaith meeting was held on October 27, 2011, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Peace in Assisi, Italy. Since then, the date has been observed by religious groups in Ho Chi Minh City as a day of fellowship and brotherhood.

This year also marked the 80th anniversary of the death of Alexandre Yersin (1863-1943), a French-Swiss doctor who made significant contributions to Vietnam. He was born in Switzerland in 1863 and died in Nha Trang, Vietnam, in 1943, where his tomb is located. In 2014, he was honored as an honorary citizen of Vietnam. He is credited with exploring the Da Lat region and the bacterium responsible for the plague. This short biography of Yersin was presented by Sister Teresa Doan Nguyen Kim Loan.

Participants engage in the “Interfaith Dice Connection’ activity

The main part of the meeting focus on presentations of the theme of 'Holistic Human Development' from the lenses of different religions.

According to the Baháʼí Faith, as presented by Nguyen Van Truong, human beings consists of three dimensions: body, mind, and soul. Therefore, the development of a well-rounded individual requires education in all three aspects, with partiular attention to early childhood, including physical, moral, and spiritual growth.

Brother Bui Ngoc Chinh , on behalf of Caodaism, stated that human beings comprise both a soul and a body. Therefore, the holistic development of a person requires the cultivation of both the heavenly path and the worldly path, in accordance with the Threefold Path.

From the perspective of Catholicism, as presented by Father Joseph Nguyen Trong Vien, God is love; as a result, Catholicism is seen as the religion of love. God created human beings in his image and calls them to live with him. The central mystery of Catholicism is the Trinity - One God in Three Persons, who are distinct yet united in a relationship of love. Therefore, the holistic development of a person must be based on both personhood and relationships. Each individual possesses dignity and human rights, and must be respected. Relationships among persons may be understood in light of the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity.

As for Buddhism,  Nun Thich Nu Minh Hoa explained that human beings are a combination of five aggregates: form, feeling, perception, volition, and consciousness. Among these, form is the physical factor, while the other four belong to the mental factors. Holistic human development includes both individual and social dimensions. Individual development involves cultivation of the mind and body, while social development relates to areas such as culture, politics, and education.

The meeting also featured the exhibition 'Humans and the Environment' by artist Father Ngo Dinh Sy and photographer Dao Hoa Nu.

The final part saw representatives from various religions take turns praying for peace for humanity in their own ways. The meeting concluded with the song Prayer of Peace of Saint Francis of Assisi and a closing remark by Father Francis Bao Loc.

Commission for Interreligious Dialogue of Saigon