Earlier this month in Rome we hosted a special closed-door session at the Second Parliamentary Conference on Interfaith Dialogue. Organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Parliament of Italy, the conference brought together religious leaders from 16 different faiths and delegates from 59 parliaments worldwide.
It was a great opportunity for us to share with politicians the recommendations from our latest Wilton Park dialogue with religious leaders on their role and responsibility in times of conflict.
In Rome we heard how ethical, strong and responsible leadership is needed more than ever before. How it’s time to stand up against the dominant narrative of dehumanisation and polarisation that underpins current conflict. How there’s now a shared strategic opportunity for faith actors and parliamentarians to work together to foster a new narrative which promotes hope, trust and healing – preparing the way for peace.
Our dialogue, held in partnership with Globethics and the IPU, built on Pope Leo XIV’s call in his inaugural mass for all women and men of goodwill to build a new world where peace reigns.
In this Jubilee Year of reset and reconciliation in the Catholic Church, Pope Leo received at the Vatican all those who attended the IPU’s Conference. It was a time to reflect and to meet and connect with the new Pope.
When we left, he offered delegates the opportunity to walk through the Holy Door in St Peter’s Basilica which his predecessor had opened for this Holy Year of Jubilee. Walking through the Holy Door, the Door of the Great Pardon, only opened once every 25 years for pilgrims during the Jubilee year, is said to be an opportunity for renewal and forgiveness of all your sins.
The next day I went back to St Peters’ Square to hear him address the pilgrims who had flocked there. An extra 35 million people this year are due to make the pilgrimage to Rome to cross the threshold of the Holy Door.
Pope Leo made a powerful call for an end to the tragedy of war, for ‘diplomacy to silence weapons’ reminding those who gathered that ‘war doesn’t solve problems. Instead, it amplifies them. It causes deep wounds in people’s history, that takes generations to heal.’
How healing can come from the intergenerational trauma caused by conflict is on our agenda for a potential conference next year at Wilton Park. Let us know if you have expertise or experience to share.
