Welcoming the other

• Published date: 20 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

The theme of this writing is based on the title of the 9th Conference of 'Religions for Peace' held in Vienna, Austria. The year's World Assembly of Religions for Peace (RfP) focused on building bridges and greater social cohesion amongst the world's religions. The theme also imports a focus on religious repression among and within the world's religions.

After two days of intensive deliberations, in Vienna, the Assembly resolved to make a declaration which may serve as guidance for religious leaders all over the world and the declaration was unanimously adopted as follows:

'We - more than six hundred religious leaders and people of faith representing all historic faith traditions and every region of the world - have convened in Vienna, Austria as the 9th World Assembly of Religions for Peace.

We have come from the global Religions for Peace family of ninety national inter-religious councils and groups, five regional councils, one world council, and international networks of religious women and religious youth. Our respective religious traditions have called us to work together for Peace.

Previous World Assemblies of Religions for Peace have discerned positive elements of Peace, common threats to Peace, and a multi-religious consensus expressed through shared values for Peace. We commit to common action based upon these deeply held and widely shared values, as a foundation for affirming the imperative of 'welcoming the other'. as the heart of our multi-religious vision of Peace.

Re-affirmation

We reaffirm the positive elements of Peace shared by our respective religious traditions:

Peace is central to our respective religions, and our diverse faiths compel us to work together to build it; Love, compassion and honesty are stronger than hate, indifference and deceit; All men and women are endowed with human dignity, share common humanity, must care for one another, and are called to consider the problems faced by others as their own; We accept the call to stand on the side of and raise up the most vulnerable, and to promote just and harmonious societies; We value women and men as equal partners in our efforts to build peace; Children are a paramount concern; the special state of childhood deserves our protection and care, and should receive priority from among our societies' resources; Non-violent conflict transformation through dialogue and reconciliation are central to peacemaking.

The use of nuclear weapons and all weapons of mass and indiscriminate destruction...