More than 400 leaders of the world’s major religions convened in Tirana, Albania, from 6 to 8 September to discuss the importance of interreligious dialogue in building peace in ongoing conflicts. Titled ‘Peace is always possible: Religions and Culture in dialogue,’ the conference was organized by the Community of Sant’Egidio, and was attended by KAICIID Board of Directors Members Rabbi David Rosen and Dr. Mohammed Sammak, as well as the Deputy Secretary General for External Relations, Alvaro Albacete. Discussions focused on the importance of dialogue in solving current global challenges, including overcoming conflict in Syria and Lebanon, mass migration, and social and environmental crises.

“There has never before in human history been a time of so much communication, collaboration and cooperation between people of so many different religious backgrounds for the benefit of society as a whole,” said Rabbi Rosen at the conference. He spoke about the legacy of the 20th Century – not only about a legacy of conflict, but also about a legacy of dialogue between faiths that emerged to overcome challenges facing the international community.

Dr. Sammak spoke of the importance of Muslim-Christian relations in uniting against the misuse of Islam: “The truth is that as Christians and Muslims faced together the many challenges of the present and miseries of the past, they also have to face the new challenges together. The current war against human values in the name of religion is war against religion and against Muslims and Christians alike.”

The religious leaders discussed the need to find a sustainable political solution for the current crisis in the Middle East, and stressed that religious communities must show solidarity in the face of terror and support peace with one another.

According to Deputy Secretary General Albacete, “It is time to implement diplomacy with a greater commitment than ever before. Our response to conflicts should not be more force, but intensifying dialogue and bringing groups in disagreement to the table.”

Participants also discussed the refugee crisis, and agreed that dialogue is the basis for integration, development and security for refugees in Europe. They called on citizens, religious communities and organizations to take responsibility for refugees’ welfare. One example of such solidarity is to uphold Pope Francis’ call on each European Catholic parish to support one refugee family.

The conference concluded with a Peace Appeal calling for solidarity and recognized the moral imperative of religious leaders to work toward peace, reconciliation and resistance to terror and violence.

“Our 21st Century is at a crossroads: between hopelessness and a future of hope, between indifference and solidarity,” reads the Appeal. “We must open the doors of our hearts and our countries, because there are no walls or barbed wire that can stop the need to live and to give a future to the children.”

The Community of Sant’Egidio

The Community of Sant’Egidio is a Catholic Church lay organization founded in Rome in 1968 whose activities include caring for the elderly and the homeless and conflict mediation, and is a leader in HIV/AIDS programmes in Africa.