His Holiness Dalai Lama to Issue Message Ahead of 90th Birthday, May Address Succession
Dharamshala, India – June 20, 2025
Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, is expected to issue a video message on July 2, just days ahead of his 90th birthday on July 6. According to the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), the message may include remarks on the future of the Dalai Lama institution and the issue of succession.
The announcement was made by CTA President (Sikyong) Penpa Tsering during a press briefing on June 18. He stated that a private gathering of senior Tibetan Buddhist leaders will take place in Dharamshala before the Dalai Lama’s birthday, followed by a broader religious conference. The Dalai Lama’s video message is scheduled to be played during the opening of that event.
“There will be a brief meeting of all the head lamas, about nine of them, with His Holiness. After that, there will be a larger religious meeting where the video message will be shared,” Tsering said.
The CTA is also launching a global “Year of Compassion” campaign to mark the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday. Events are planned across several countries to honor his contributions to nonviolence, interfaith dialogue, and universal ethics.
While no official details have been released about the content of the July 2 message, the occasion has prompted increased public attention on the question of whether the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue. The Tibetan exile community generally supports the continuation of the lineage.
The Dalai Lama has previously said that if the Tibetan people wish to continue the institution, the Gaden Phodrang Trust, the Office of the Dalai Lama based in McLeod Ganj, will be responsible for overseeing the recognition process. He has also emphasized that his reincarnation would not take place under Chinese government control and that the issue of Tibet’s political status would be central to such a decision.
The Chinese government, which does not recognize the legitimacy of the exile administration, has insisted that any reincarnation of the Dalai Lama must occur within China and be approved by the state. This position contradicts traditional Tibetan Buddhist practice, in which senior lamas and the Dalai Lama’s own religious office hold authority over the reincarnation process.
The 14th Dalai Lama relinquished his political leadership in 2011, transferring political authority to the democratically elected CTA. He has since focused on religious teachings, global peace advocacy, and the promotion of Tibetan culture.
His upcoming message is expected to be a key moment in the discussion about Tibet’s future leadership and the spiritual continuity of the Dalai Lama lineage.
