At a Crossroads: An Intergenerational and Multireligious Response to the Social and Environmental Crisis Press Release
“At a Crossroads: An Intergenerational and Multireligious Response to the Social and Environmental Crisis”
Co-Sponsored by Religions for Peace and the City Council of Manresa (Catalonia, Spain)
4 October 2022 | Manresa, Catalonia, Spain: In commemoration of the 500th anniversary of St. Ignatius of Loyola’s pilgrimage and stay in the city of Manresa, and following the Earth Day Celebration event “Love and Respect the Earth: Multi-Religious Collaboration to Address the Climate Crisis,” Religions for Peace, the world’s largest multi-religious movement ensuring that all people enjoy peace, harmony, and prosperity, and the City Council of Manresa will hold a multi-faith, multi-sectoral, and multi-stakeholder event in Manresa, Spain from 28-30 November 2022. At a Crossroads: An Intergenerational and Multireligious Response to the Social and Environmental Crisis is aimed at addressing the social and environmental crises facing our cities and earth by emphasising the importance of involving youth in creating and nurturing sustainable, just, and inclusive cities.
For over half a century, Religions for Peace has been coordinating multi-religious service and advocacy around critical social issues such as human rights, peace, and security, as well as nurturing a sustainable environment. At a Crossroadswill bring together multi-religious leaders, youth, women, and representatives from governmental, intergovernmental and civil society institutions—including academia. The first of the confirmed participants will include Hon. Ela Gandhi, Co-President of Religions for Peace, Ms. Emina Frljak, Member of Religions for Peace’s International Youth Committee, H.E. Sheikh Shaban Mubaje, Grand Mufti of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, Mr. Renz C. Argao, Coordinator of Religions for Peace’s International Youth Committee, Rev. Sr. Agatha Ogochukwu Chikelue, Chair of the Religions for Peace International Women’s Coordinating Committee, Ms. Sarah Oliver, Associate Director of Global Programs of United Religions Initiative, Chief Rabbi David Rosen, Co-President of Religions for Peace, and more.
The forum will provide a unique platform where youth and elders will seek tangible solutions to pressing social and environmental crises such as lack of housing, food, and water security; access to equitable healthcare and education; and greenspace. The outcome of this event will result in The Manresa 2022 Multireligious and Multisectoral Global Pact for the Development of Resilient, Sustainable, Safe, and Inclusive Cities (The Manresa Pact).
To commemorate St. Ignatius’s belief in the power of spiritual transformation and strengthen Religions for Peace’s mission to foster multi-religious collaborative action, as part of the programme, Professor Azza Karam, Secretary General of Religions for Peace, and Mr. Marc Aloy I. Guàrdia, Mayor of the City of Manresa, will convene their networks to an interfaith pilgrimage along the Camino Ignaciano, led by multi-faith youth leaders and a panel of Eminent Global Faith Leaders. The spiritual and reflective walk will allow time for meditation and an opportunity to reflect on how spiritual, moral and social assets of faith communities can be mobilised to respond to the need to nurture and preserve our environment.
Religions for Peace and the City of Manresa invite the press and media as witnesses to a dialogue of action where multi-religious leaders, youth, women, and civil society institutions will collaborate and advocate to build resilient, sustainable, and inclusive cities.
For more information, please contact:
- Religions for Peace, International: Ms. Sohaa Khan: skhan@rfp.org
- City Council of Manresa: Mr. Jordi Serra Morales: jserram@ajmanresa.cat