Assisi: The International Meeting for Peace in Assisi has renewed calls for people of different religions to move beyond dialogue and take concrete steps to address violence and conflict around the world.
Hala Alkarib, regional director of the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa, said faith based institutions must play a stronger role in promoting peace and protecting human dignity amid growing violence and instability.
Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, Alkarib stressed that the international community must respond to the serious challenges facing humanity with practical action rather than promises alone.
The gathering, held under the theme “Unarmed and Disarming Peace”, opened on October 25. Inspired by Pope Leo XIV’s message for the World Day of Peace 2026, it brings together people and leaders from different religious traditions, cultures and countries to promote dialogue and peace.
The meeting also marks 40 years since the historic Spirit of Assisi gathering, when Pope St. John Paul II highlighted the importance of peace across national and cultural boundaries.
Alkarib highlighted the severe consequences of the ongoing conflict in Sudan, where, according to the material presented at the meeting, more than 250,000 civilians have been killed during the four years since the conflict began.
She described widespread destruction and looting affecting homes, churches, mosques and museums. Sexual and gender based violence has also become more common, adding to the suffering of civilians.
She warned that the consequences of the violence are not confined to Sudan but are spreading to other parts of the Horn of Africa. In this situation, she called on religious institutions to become more actively involved in addressing conflict and supporting efforts to build peace.
Alkarib said lasting peace must place human beings at the centre of decisions and actions. She emphasised the need to protect human life, share resources fairly and safeguard the environment and ecosystems.
She also urged religious institutions to use their influence to speak out against violence and work together for the common good. Without such engagement, she warned, human life risks being treated as a matter of political or economic transactions rather than as something that must be protected.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Alkarib expressed hope that the meeting in Assisi could help create opportunities for meaningful cooperation among people of different faiths.
Representatives from more than 50 countries have gathered in the Italian city for the event, providing an opportunity to exchange experiences and discuss ways to respond to conflicts and other threats to peace.
However, Alkarib stressed that dialogue alone would not be enough. She called on participants to turn the messages and appeals shared during the opening assembly into practical initiatives that could make a difference in communities affected by violence.
She also encouraged people from different religious backgrounds to work together strategically and use their collective influence to advance peace.
Alkarib said the responsibility to act extends beyond those attending the meeting, stressing that building peace requires a shared commitment from people and institutions around the world.
For her, the gathering in Assisi should serve not only as a place for discussion but also as a starting point for concrete efforts to protect human dignity and address the causes and consequences of violence.