Astana: Pope Leo XIV has called on religious leaders around the world to embrace faith as a force for peace and reconciliation, reminding them that religion, far from being a cause of division, is a fountain of healing for humanity. His appeal came in a message sent to the 8th Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, which opened in Astana on Wednesday.
The two-day congress, held in Kazakhstan’s capital on September 17–18, has brought together prominent religious leaders and representatives of diverse faith traditions from across the globe. The forum serves as one of the world’s leading platforms for interreligious dialogue, where participants examine ways to strengthen harmony and confront global challenges marked by division, violence, and displacement.
In his message, Pope Leo XIV began with the greeting of “peace” expressed in multiple languages, underscoring the universality of the theme and the shared aspirations of believers worldwide.
The Pope noted that the congress convenes at a time when violent conflicts, geopolitical rivalries, and social fractures plague nations. Against this backdrop, he praised the courage of leaders who have chosen dialogue over discord. “You have come together to renew friendships and forge new ones,” he said, “united in our common desire to bring healing to our fractured and wounded world.”
Reflecting on the theme “Dialogue of Religions: Synergy for the Future,” Pope Leo stressed that authentic religious impulses always lead toward dialogue, cooperation, and mutual respect. Faith, he added, transcends borders, nurtures fraternity, and is capable of shaping a shared destiny.
Going beyond pragmatism, the Pope described interreligious cooperation as a reflection of the “deeper order of reality.” True solidarity, he explained, is “synergy in action” the living practice of loving one’s neighbour on a global scale. Rather than erasing differences, this solidarity values diversity as a source of enrichment and creativity.
He recalled the words of the Second Vatican Council’s Nostra Aetate (1965), which affirmed the Catholic Church’s respect for what is “true and holy” in all religions. Quoting its spirit, he underlined that each tradition brings distinct gifts—wisdom, compassion, and experience that can enrich the common table of encounter.
Pope Leo XIV also acknowledged his predecessor, Pope Francis, who attended the previous congress in September 2022. That meeting ended with a resounding rejection of violence and a commitment to protect refugees and promote peace. “These efforts,” he said, “remain a foundation upon which we continue to build.”
Looking ahead, the Pope urged leaders to work for a future rooted in peace, fraternity, and solidarity. “Faith unites more than it divides,” he declared, insisting that synergy among religions must become a living sign of hope for humanity. Religion, at its heart, he reminded participants, is not a trigger for conflict but “a wellspring of healing and reconciliation.”
In conclusion, Pope Leo XIV expressed his hope that the interreligious dialogue in Astana will inspire believers everywhere to pursue peace that is “unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering.” He envisioned the congress as a catalyst for building what he called a “synergy for peace,” one capable of breaking cycles of hatred and offering the world an authentic path of reconciliation.