Conference of the World Council of Religious Leaders on Faith and Diplomacy: Generations in Dialogue Event Summary

From October 4th-7th, 2021, 130 in-person and over 1,700 virtual participants from 86 countries came together for the Conference of the World Council of Religious Leaders on Faith and Diplomacy: Generations in Dialogue hosted by Religions for Peace, Ring for Peace, and supported by the German Federal Foreign Office. The Conference sought to bring together religious actors, youth leaders, policymakers, and civil society actors to discuss the three themes of the Conference: Peace and Security, the Environment, and Humanitarianism during 11 plenary sessions and 14 Diplomacy Roundtables spanning the course of the four days.

Speakers and participants of the Conference included members of the World Council, Honorary Presidents, International Women’s Coordinating Committee, International Youth Committee and the Youth Media Team.

The Meeting of the World Council, held on the first day of the Conference, resulted in the Global Pledge by World’s Religious Leaders. In the Pledge, the World Council reaffirms their commitment to global issues such as Peacebuilding and Environment and Humanitarian Work.

On day two, in addition to focusing on Peace and Security, the traditional Ring for Peace Ceremony was held at Luitpoldpark in which participants walked from Inselhalle to the Ring for Peace sculpture to hear remarks from Bishop Margot Kassman, Grandmother Marie-Josée Rankin, Grandfather Dominique Rankin, and Ms. Fatima Hallal while they lit their candles to represent inter-religious unity and collaboration.

Day three was focused on the Environment and how can faith leaders, policy makers, and the youth work to ensure that that environmental issues are at the forefront of every discussion. The highlight of the day included the youth Debate on whether Religious Actors are uniquely helpful in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic: True or False which was moderated by Dr. Azza Karam.

The final day of the Conference focused on Humanitarianism and the way forward for diplomacy and the lessons learned from the entirety of the Conference. Many of the key takeaways of the Conference included acknowledging that the youth are necessary to inter-religious collaboration and conversation and that the role of active listening is crucial to inter-generational and inter-religious dialogue and being open to understanding one another is the way forward.

To learn more and view the full Conference program, click here or here.

To watch videos from the sessions, click here.

To view social media posts from the Conference, click here.

Blog Posts:

Kick Off of the Conference | Faith, Diplomacy and Public Health | HEART-Talk on Peacebuilding | Peace and Security: The Multi-religious Imperative | Nourishing the Human in Humanitarianism | Closing Ceremony

In the News:

Q&A: Can faith engagement help prevent Afghanistan’s collapse?, Devex | As Young Talents Flee, Afghanistan Faces A Dying Arts and Culture Scene, VICE | Non-Muslims Stuck in Taliban-Ruled Afghanistan Expect the Worst, VICE | US Continues Diplomatic Outreach to Host At-risk Afghans, Voice of America | Pandemic Illustrates Global and Ecumenical Interdependence, Welby Declares, Baptist News Global | Hybrid Religions for Peace conference puts focus on climate, conflict, coronavirus, Washington Post/Religion News Service | Religions for Peace made history with its new leader. Then came historic challenges, Washington Post/Religion News Service | Haiti’s diverse faiths bolster it against waves of tragedy, Religion News Service | Background Briefing with Ian Masters (Public Radio), Background Briefing

All photos are courtesy of Ring for Peace