Pope in Thailand

Press, 11 May 1984, Page 6

Pope in Thailand

NZPA-AFP Bangkok Pope John Paul II arrived at Bangkok last evening for a 34-hour visit to Thailand, the last stage of a fournation Asian tour. The Pope’s plane from Papua New Guinea landed at Bangkok’s military airport, and he made his now traditional act of kissing the ground as he arrived in the country where 95 per cent of the population is Buddhist. He was welcomed by Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, the son of King Bhumipol Adulyadej, and the Prime Minister, General Prem Tinsu-

lanonda. Some 300 Thai children from Catholic schools in Bangkok gathered at the airport to welcome the Pope. Bangkok was bedecked with the Thai and Vatican national colours to mark the visit. Huge portraits of John Paul with the inscription, “Viva il Papa” were put up at some spots along his route. Pope John Paul’s trip has upset some small fundamentalist Buddhist groups, who are offended that it coincided with the traditional ploughing ceremony performed yesterday by

King Bhumipol in front of the Grand Palace. They are unhappy that it comes just a few days before the commemoration on Monday of Buddha’s birth, illumination, and death. Local press reports yesterday said that several groups were preparing to express their displeasure in temples. But none mentioned plans to demonstrate near the Pope, who was being received by the King as a visiting Head of State. As a precaution, the authorities cancelled plans for a motor parade at the national stadium where the Pope was to say a Mass for an expected 45,000 people.