As the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square to witness the Inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate, a voice from the East lent a reflective perspective to the momentous occasion. Dr. Boonchuay Doojai, a distinguished Buddhist scholar and interfaith advocate from Thailand, shared his views on the Pope’s early call for global peace and unity.
Dr. Boonchuay — a former monk, academic, and chairman of the Thai Interfaith Foundation for Social Development — described the papal election as more than ceremonial; it was, in his words, “a deeply symbolic gesture toward global healing.”
"The choice of the name 'Leo XIV' is not without meaning," he observed. "It evokes the Church’s courageous commitment to justice, dialogue, and reconciliation—principles urgently needed in our fractured world."
The scholar also highlighted the cultural depth of the Pope’s inaugural gestures—his use of Italian rather than English for his first public message, and a heartfelt greeting in Spanish to his former community in Peru. These, Dr. Boonchuay said, reflected a Pope grounded in humility and pastoral care.
“His opening words—La pace sia con tutti voi! or ‘Peace be with you!’—resonated beyond liturgical tradition. They felt like a sincere, universal invitation to put aside enmity and seek peace,” he said.
Pope Leo XIV’s renewed appeal during the Mass for peace in war-torn regions echoed the final, poignant blessing of Pope Francis. The new Pope’s voice, soft but firm, invoked his predecessor’s memory: “His voice still rings in our ears—soft, but always full of courage.”
Dr. Boonchuay recalled his personal meeting with Pope Francis in 2018 at the Focolare Movement’s headquarters in Loppiano, Italy. “It was a moment of deep inspiration. I encountered a man of genuine humility, a pontiff who embodied compassion and interfaith understanding,” he reflected.
Comparing the two Popes, Dr. Boonchuay noted both continuity and change. “Pope Leo XIV walks in the path of Pope Francis, yet brings his own rhythm. He honors legacy, but also dares to chart a new direction.”
Though only days into his papacy, Pope Leo XIV has already left a deep impression on the Thai thinker. “What stands out is his remarkable empathy—his willingness to hear even opposing voices, not to argue, but to understand. This is the spirit the world needs today,” Dr. Boonchuay concluded. “A Pope of peace, not only for Catholics, but for humanity.”