WCC NEWS: Conference explores “Building Fraternity through Dialogue and Collaboration”

A conference in Rome hosted by the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, in collaboration with European interreligious partners, and the Office for Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation of the World Council of Churches (WCC), on 23-24 June explored “Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs in Europe: Building Fraternity through Dialogue and Collaboration.” Rome, June 2026. Conference “Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs in Europe: Building Fraternity through Dialogue and Collaboration", co-organised by the WCC, the Vatican’s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue and a broad coalition of Christian and Dharmic partners. Photo: Chady Chata/WCC 01 July 2026 Prominent religious leaders, academics, scholars, and representatives of Christianity and the Dharmic religions (Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism) gathered at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum). “The conference brought together individuals committed to strengthening human fraternity through interreligious dialogue and cooperation in Europe,” reads a communique from the conference. “In this context, they acknowledged the foundational role of fraternity for building cohesive and peaceful communities.” Participants highlighted the importance of strengthening mutual respect, cooperation, and engagement today, while remaining rooted in their respective religious traditions. “The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment to nurturing a culture of encounter and collaboration for the common good,” reads the communique. “Participants expressed their hope that such collaboration will continue to inspire the wider society and contribute to the building of fraternity and peace.” Participants examined how Europe’s growing religious diversity and secularising context are reshaping public life, social cohesion, and the role of faith communities. Drawing on Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jain, and Sikh perspectives, the discussions explored fraternity as a lived commitment to human dignity, nonviolence, equality, service, and mutual care. Rome, June 2026. Conference “Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs in Europe: Building Fraternity through Dialogue and Collaboration", co-organised by the WCC, the Vatican’s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue and a broad coalition of Christian and Dharmic partners. Photo: Chady Chata/WCC Participants also shared concrete experiences of integration, peaceful coexistence, and the challenges involved, highlighting how local dialogue and collaboration can move beyond mutual understanding towards common action. The conference concluded with proposals for a shared roadmap to promote fraternity in Europe through stronger relationships, practical cooperation, and sustained interreligious engagement. In his greeting, WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay observed that public discourse is often marked by “polarization, suspicion, and exclusion.”  He called on faith communities “to build bridges of encounter, solidarity, and trust,” and urged believers not to allow their faiths “to be abused and misused, especially by the powerful and mighty.” He affirmed that interreligious dialogue “moves courageously across boundaries, recognizing diversity while safeguarding the truth and integrity of each tradition.” Prof. Dr Angeliki Ziaka, WCC programme executive for Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation, highlighted recognition as a precondition for dialogue: “Before communities can enter into dialogue, they must first be seen and recognised.” She noted that visibility, encounter, trust, and cooperation enable religious communities to participate more fully in the social, educational, cultural, and public life of Europe. The participants reaffirmed their commitment to nurturing a culture of encounter and collaboration for the common good. They expressed the hope that this shared journey will contribute to a more peaceful, inclusive, and fraternal Europe. Photo gallery See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland