Cardinal opens first formal Christian-Confucian dialogue in Seoul

Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue at the Vatican, opened the first formal dialogue between Christian and Confucian traditions at Sogang University in Seoul, South Korea. The dialogue represents an official initiative by the Catholic Church to engage directly with Confucian thought and practice at an institutional level. Sogang University, a Jesuit institution in South Korea, hosted the event, positioning it within a context where both Christian and Confucian traditions have deep roots in Korean society. The dialogue aims to explore shared values and common ground between the two traditions, with the stated goal of working together to build a more harmonious world. This formal engagement signals the Vatican's commitment to interreligious understanding beyond the more commonly discussed Christian dialogues with Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism, and reflects the growing recognition of Confucianism's influence in East Asian societies and its relevance to contemporary global concerns about social harmony, ethics, and community life.

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Source: Vatican News — https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2026-08/christian-confucian-dialogue-koovakad-calls-for-working-together.html