Vietnam laments death of Buddhist patriarch

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Friday morning pays tribute to Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue, Supreme Patriarch of the Patronage Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), who died Thursday.

Thich Pho Tue let out his last breath at 3:22 a.m. at Vien Minh Pagoda in Hanoi's Phu Xuyen District. He was 105.

Thich Pho Tue was known for leading a humble life with his disciples at the pagoda, often planting rice, gardening and cleaning the pagoda himself. He's also the author of several written works, including chants, translations and dictionaries regarding Buddhism.

"Monks are the models for humanity, or at least for a community of humans. Without virtue and wisdom, how would we teach humans? How would we have an example for the people to follow," he once said.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh pays tribute to the religious figure.

The coffin ceremony begins at 1 p.m. Thursday at Vien Minh Pagoda.

Monks chant prayers for the late Supreme Patriarch.

Followers shed tears during the ceremony.

Hundreds of people stand in the pagoda yard to pay their respects.

"I've spent decades going to the pagoda and saw how Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue lived a humble life close to the people," said 98-year-old Vuong Thi Toa.

For coronavirus prevention, funeral organizers set up an altar outside for people to pay their tributes.

Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue's coffin would be placed within the grounds of Vien Minh Pagoda.

Born Bui Van Quy in 1917 in Ninh Binh's Yen Khanh District, Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue served several important roles within the VBS since 1987. He became the Supreme Patriarch of the Patronage Council of the VBS in November 2007.

Vietnam has 11 million Buddhism followers.