Taiwan and the Vatican Open a New Chapter of Religious Exchange — MWR Delegation Pays Courtesy Call on Ambassador Anthony Chung-Yi Ho to the Holy See
To continue advancing interfaith understanding and peace, Venerable Xian Yue, CEO of the Museum of World Religions (MWR) Development Foundation, and Ma Yu-chuan, MWR Museum Director, traveled to the Vatican to attend major religious events on Oct. 25. They paid a courtesy visit to His Excellency Anthony Chung-Yi Ho, Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the Holy See, on Oct. 27. The central event was the '60th Anniversary of Religious Dialogue' under the banner of 'Nostra Aetate' (In Our Time), and MWR's participation symbolizes that Taiwan's religious circle continues to exercise influence in the process of global dialogue, by joining hands with the Catholic Church in responding to the contemporary society's demand for peace and spiritual care.
Ambassador Anthony Chung-Yi Ho has long been concerned with religious and cultural exchanges and holds deep respect for Grand Master Hsin Tao, MWR Founder, for his advocacy of "loving the earth and loving peace." He stated that he had known of Grand Master Hsin Tao's aspirations and practices since the early days of his diplomatic career, and particularly admired his approach of using religious dialogue as a foundation to unite people, bridge differences, and make religion a force for peace. Ambassador Ho said, "Grand Master Hsin Tao's practice of faith, with compassion at its core, and his advocacy of peace through action, is admirable and allows the world to see the positive energy of religion."
He further pointed out that religion should not be a dividing line, but a bridge connecting people. Faced with global conflicts and social divisions, sincere dialogue and genuine respect are the keys to humanity coexisting. Ambassador Ho said, "Religious dialogue is not just an idea, but a continuous action; only through understanding and tolerance can true peace be created."
Venerable Xian Yue, on behalf of the MWR Development Foundation, thanked Ambassador Ho for his long-term support of religious exchange and peace initiatives. She stated that the spirit of "Respect for all Faiths, Tolerance for all Cultures, and Love for all Life" advocated by Grand Master Hsin Tao is the core value of the Foundation and the Museum of World Religions in their continued efforts to promote religious dialogue. "We hope that religious encounters will be a blessing, allowing different faiths to prosper together through understanding and to walk together in compassion."
He further shared the Foundation's international initiatives in recent years, including the establishment of the "University for Life and Peace" in Bago, Myanmar, with "spiritual ecology" as its core concept. The university aims to cultivate young people with both depth of faith and a global perspective through religious education and sustainability actions, thereby translating peace education from concept into reality.
Ma Yu-Chuan, MWR Museum Director, stated that being invited to participate in this religious event is not only an affirmation of Taiwan's achievements in promoting interfaith dialogue but also reflects MWR's mission as a platform for cross-faith exchange. She noted that since its establishment in 2001, the museum has consistently promoted religious understanding and peaceful coexistence through exhibitions and educational programs. Next year (2026) will mark the museum's 25th anniversary, for which a series of exhibitions and international forums will be planned under the theme of "Spiritual Ecology," continuing the spirit of "responding to ecology with the spirituality" advocated by Grand Master Hsin Tao, allowing the public to reflect on the harmonious relationship between humanity and nature, and faith and life through exhibitions and experiences.
The meeting was held in a warm and sincere atmosphere. Venerable Xian Yue presented Ambassador Anthony Chung-Yi Ho with a banner inscribed with "Respect, Tolerance, Universal Love, and Peace," symbolizing the spirit of religious harmony, along with a souvenir, to express gratitude for his years of dedication to promoting interfaith dialogue and cultural understanding. Ambassador Ho stated that this gesture was meaningful, and the blessings of peace it contained were particularly valued. He pledged to continue supporting related initiatives to promote greater interfaith cooperation and cultural exchange.
This meeting not only reviewed the sixty-year history of religious dialogue under the Nostra Aetate (In Our Time), but also injected new momentum into the religious and cultural friendship between Taiwan and the Vatican. Both sides look forward to jointly promoting religious education for youth, peace exhibitions, and sustainability initiatives, working together to realize the vision of interfaith understanding and global peace.
Ambassador Anthony Chung-Yi Ho has long been concerned with religious and cultural exchanges and holds deep respect for Grand Master Hsin Tao, MWR Founder, for his advocacy of "loving the earth and loving peace." He stated that he had known of Grand Master Hsin Tao's aspirations and practices since the early days of his diplomatic career, and particularly admired his approach of using religious dialogue as a foundation to unite people, bridge differences, and make religion a force for peace. Ambassador Ho said, "Grand Master Hsin Tao's practice of faith, with compassion at its core, and his advocacy of peace through action, is admirable and allows the world to see the positive energy of religion."
He further pointed out that religion should not be a dividing line, but a bridge connecting people. Faced with global conflicts and social divisions, sincere dialogue and genuine respect are the keys to humanity coexisting. Ambassador Ho said, "Religious dialogue is not just an idea, but a continuous action; only through understanding and tolerance can true peace be created."
Venerable Xian Yue, on behalf of the MWR Development Foundation, thanked Ambassador Ho for his long-term support of religious exchange and peace initiatives. She stated that the spirit of "Respect for all Faiths, Tolerance for all Cultures, and Love for all Life" advocated by Grand Master Hsin Tao is the core value of the Foundation and the Museum of World Religions in their continued efforts to promote religious dialogue. "We hope that religious encounters will be a blessing, allowing different faiths to prosper together through understanding and to walk together in compassion."
He further shared the Foundation's international initiatives in recent years, including the establishment of the "University for Life and Peace" in Bago, Myanmar, with "spiritual ecology" as its core concept. The university aims to cultivate young people with both depth of faith and a global perspective through religious education and sustainability actions, thereby translating peace education from concept into reality.
Ma Yu-Chuan, MWR Museum Director, stated that being invited to participate in this religious event is not only an affirmation of Taiwan's achievements in promoting interfaith dialogue but also reflects MWR's mission as a platform for cross-faith exchange. She noted that since its establishment in 2001, the museum has consistently promoted religious understanding and peaceful coexistence through exhibitions and educational programs. Next year (2026) will mark the museum's 25th anniversary, for which a series of exhibitions and international forums will be planned under the theme of "Spiritual Ecology," continuing the spirit of "responding to ecology with the spirituality" advocated by Grand Master Hsin Tao, allowing the public to reflect on the harmonious relationship between humanity and nature, and faith and life through exhibitions and experiences.
The meeting was held in a warm and sincere atmosphere. Venerable Xian Yue presented Ambassador Anthony Chung-Yi Ho with a banner inscribed with "Respect, Tolerance, Universal Love, and Peace," symbolizing the spirit of religious harmony, along with a souvenir, to express gratitude for his years of dedication to promoting interfaith dialogue and cultural understanding. Ambassador Ho stated that this gesture was meaningful, and the blessings of peace it contained were particularly valued. He pledged to continue supporting related initiatives to promote greater interfaith cooperation and cultural exchange.
This meeting not only reviewed the sixty-year history of religious dialogue under the Nostra Aetate (In Our Time), but also injected new momentum into the religious and cultural friendship between Taiwan and the Vatican. Both sides look forward to jointly promoting religious education for youth, peace exhibitions, and sustainability initiatives, working together to realize the vision of interfaith understanding and global peace.
