His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria and All Africa Tuesday attended the Conference on Promoting peaceful coexistence and common citizenship organized in Vienna by the International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue – KAICIID.
The conference created a first-ever joint action plan for Arab religious leaders to lead the way in repairing the divisions created by extremists, and rebuilding social cohesion and common citizenship in the Arab region.
The platform will be the first of its kind for the leaders of Christian and Muslim communities in the region, a space where they can cooperate to jointly promote the best interests of all the people in the region. Religious leaders and policymakers consider this institution essential; the lack of such a platform is as an obstacle to sustained interreligious dialogue.
In his speech, the Patriarch of Alexandria spoke about the activity of the Orthodox Church in Africa. “Religions and religious leaders have a great responsibility, but also an obligation, to promote peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding of the peoples,” His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros said Feb 27.
“Our meeting today has this purpose, but in order to achieve its goals, we will need to extract messages, that will become a common reference point for all believers and all people,” the Patriarch of Alexandria added.
The Conference opened its works Monday, February 26. Attending the event was Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew who offered his remarks on peace.
More than 200 religious leaders, policymakers, academics, and representatives of international and civil society organizations are attending the conference, including leaders from the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Muslim World League and Evangelical Church of Egypt.
Photography courtesy of the Patriarchate of Alexandria
