Ceremony for the 47 years of the 17th Supreme Patriarch's Appointment
47 years ago, on the 21st of July 1972, Thailand witnessed a big joyful event for Buddhism and Thai Buddhists alike, Somdet Phra Wannarat, abbot of Phra Chetuphon, was appointed by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great (King Rama IX) to hold the position of Somdet Phra Ariyavamsagatañāṇa Somdet Phra Saṅgharāja Sakalamahāsaṅghapariṇāyaka (Pun Puṇṇasiri), the 17th Supreme Patriarch of Rattanakosin Period of Thailand.
The 17th Supreme Patriarch showed a profound wisdom and firmness in the disciple of Dhamma. He was a merciful ruler for the Sangha Assembly. Loved by the disciples he had received the name of “Somdet Pha” (father Somdet).
His writing skill was another remarkable and unique ability. His writings, have passed the trial of time and still sound modern within the doctrine, the sermons are up-to-date and can be well used by the people in their daily life practice.
The most extraordinary event for the Thai Buddhist community was that he was the first Theravada monk and the first Thai Buddhist monk ever to meet the Blessed Pope Paul VI at the Vatican City on the 5th of June 1972.
It showed, on the world stage, that even though there are different beliefs, religions and countries, with the practice of respect for the different faiths and doctrines, we can shape the world and create peace for the whole mankind.
Because of this message, that historical visit has been well known all over the world and well documented in the archives of the Vatican City. The visit of the first Thai Buddhist monk has been painted on a large oil canvas and it has been displayed at the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue to this day.
The friendship born at that time keeps on up to these days with the Sangha Assembly of Wat Phra Chetuphon and with Phra Thepweeraporn, abbot of the temple, who follows the same path of “Somdet Pha”.
On the 2nd of August 2016, Monsignor Dr. Vissanu Thanya-anan, Deputy Secretary-General of the Roman Catholic Church of Thailand, met Phra Thepweeraporn, abbot of Wat Phra Chetuphon to inform about the wish of the Pope Francis, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. He requested a cooperation from the Sangha Assembly of Wat Phra Chetuphon for the transliteration of the Sacred Scripture of Phra Malai which His Majesty King Rama VII offered as a gift in the year of 1934 during His visit to the Vatican City.
Pope Francis desired to translate this Scripture into 7 different languages to be displayed at the Vatican City Museum for the tourists visiting from all over the world.
On the 16th of May 2018, the Sangha Assembly of Wat Phra Chetuphon led by Phra Rajaratanasunthorn, Phra Rajapariyattimuni, Mr. Vira Rojpojanarat (Minister of Culture), Mr. Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi (manager of Wat Phra Chetuphon) and the Committee for the transliteration project of the Sacred Scriptures of Phra Malai met Pope Francis for presenting the transliterated Sacred Buddhist Scripture of Phra Malai at the Vatican City.
On the 9th of November 2018, Pope Francis assigned His Excellency, Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot, Monsignor Indunil Janaka Kodithuwakku and the delegations from the Vatican City to attend the Ceremony for the 230th Anniversary of the Monastery of Wat Phra Chetuphon.
Somdet Phra Ariyavamsagatañāṇa Somdet Phra Saṅgharāja Sakalamahāsaṅghapariṇāyaka (20th Supreme Patriarch of Thailand), assigned Phra Brahmapundit, a member of the Sangha Supreme Council of Thailand, abbot of Wat Prayoonwongsawat, to travel to the Vatican City, as a representative together with the Sangha Assembly of Wat Phra Chetuphon, in the name of the Thai Buddhist Sangha, and attend the religious leadership summit of the United Nations (UN) on Religion and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to show vision on stage and meeting from the 7th to the 9th of March 2019.
"Somdet Pha" or Somdet Ariyavamsagatañāṇa (Pun Punnasiri), the 17th Supreme Patriarch of Rattanakosin Period has made many contributions to Thai Buddhist religious inspiring the monks and the younger generation to study and behave well and fllowing the doctrine of the Lord Buddha.
The Commemoration of Somdet Phra Ariyavamsagatañāṇa, the 17th Supreme Patriarch of Rattanakosin Period is held during the ceremony of the Somdet Phra Ariyavamsagatañāṇa (Pun Puṇṇasiri) Foundation Day at the Monastic Meeting Hall, Northern Part N. 16, at Wat Phra Chetuphon on the 21st of July 2019, from 9 a.m. to 12 a.m.
