The Archdiocese of Milan, led by Archbishop Mario Delpini, has added a five-lesson course on Buddhism to its preparation offerings for the World Youth Day (WYD) in Seoul 2027. The initiative will begin next Monday, October 26, and will run until November 23. The published program does not include any session dedicated to Jesus Christ, Catholic doctrine, or evangelization.
Under the title Sui passi del Buddha. Cammino, storia, pensiero e tradizioni del buddhismo (“In the Footsteps of the Buddha: Path, History, Thought, and Traditions of Buddhism”), the course is promoted by the “C. M. Martini” Center in collaboration with the University of Milano-Bicocca. The archdiocese’s youth ministry presents it explicitly as one of the diocesan initiatives to prepare for the international gathering of Catholic youth to be held next summer in South Korea.
Five Lessons on the Different Buddhist Traditions
The course is free and will be delivered online over five consecutive Mondays, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Registration was open from October 12 to 22.
The first session, scheduled for October 26, will be an introduction to the Buddha’s teachings and will be led by Emanuela Magno of the University of Padua. On November 2, Daniele Mazza of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions will address Theravāda Buddhism, while on November 9 Massimo Raveri of Ca’ Foscari University of Venice will explain the Mahāyāna tradition, known as the Great Vehicle.
The final two classes will focus on Zen Buddhism on November 16, with Buddhist monk Tetsugen Serra, and on Korean Buddhism on November 23, with Andrea Maria Nencini of the CAMNES Study Center in Florence.
According to the organizers, the goal is to provide a historical-critical introduction to the main Buddhist traditions, with special attention to intercultural and interreligious dialogue. Topics to be covered include the meaning of existence, suffering, the pursuit of happiness, coexistence, and the relationship between interiority and the world.
Participants who attend at least four sessions and pass a final test will receive a digital credential (open badge). Students at the University of Milano-Bicocca may also request academic credit recognition, in accordance with the conditions set by their university.
Criticism Over the Absence of References to Christ in the Program
The inclusion of this initiative in the preparation for WYD has drawn criticism for its announced content, which focuses exclusively on knowledge of Buddhism and its various schools.
The Italian newspaper La Verità reported on the course on October 21. Subsequently, LifeSiteNews published the criticisms of journalist Gianfranco Amato, who questioned the priority of offering formation on the Buddha to Catholic youth when, in his view, many of them barely know Jesus Christ.
Amato criticized the approach of the initiative and attributed it to a distorted view of the religious formation needs of young people.
The official program does not include classes on the Catholic faith or on the doctrinal differences between Christianity and Buddhism. The five sessions are devoted to presenting the history, thought, and traditions of this Eastern religion.
The proposal adds to other interreligious dialogue initiatives promoted within the Milan archdiocese, including a project for a monastic space shared by Christians, Muslims, and Buddhists presented in May of this year.
Preparation for WYD Seoul 2027
World Youth Day will be held in Seoul from August 3 to 8, 2027, and will bring together Catholic youth from around the world. The gathering will be guided by the words of Jesus Christ recorded in the Gospel of John: “Take courage: I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33).
On October 22, coinciding with the opening of registrations, Leo XIV addressed a video message to young people inviting them to take part in a pilgrimage of faith, friendship, and hope.
“This is not merely an invitation to discover a new city; it is a call to undertake a pilgrimage of faith, friendship, and hope,” the Pontiff stated, reminding them that WYD should be an opportunity to deepen their personal relationship with God.
The Pope also recalled the exhortation of Saint John Paul II: “Do not be afraid! Open wide the doors to Christ.”
The Archdiocese of Milan has included the Buddhism course among its preparation offerings for Seoul, alongside other pastoral, cultural, and organizational activities. The diocesan program also includes specifically Christian initiatives, while the cycle promoted by the “C. M. Martini” Center focuses on the study of Buddhist traditions.
The upcoming WYD will feature five patron saints announced by the local organizing committee, linked to the history of evangelization and Catholicism in Korea.