Top Photo Credit: UNAOC
June 14, 2023
NEW YORK, USA
Abrahamic Reunion International Director Ghassan Manasra, and AR Co-Founder David Less, took part in “Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue: Building Bridges Between East and West,” a meeting of world faith and civil society leaders at the UN Headquarters.
The initiative received coverage from Catholic News Today, Egypt Today, from UNAOC, the World Muslim League, and the full meeting was videotaped and broadcast on UN TV (click to watch).
The session was co-organized by the UNAOC (United Nations Alliance of Civilizations), The Muslim World League, and the UN Multicultural Study of Faiths of the UN Staff Recreation Council, and featured presentations from H.E. Mr. Csaba Korosi, President of the United Nations General Assembly; Ms. Amina J Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations; H.E. Sheikh Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League; and Mr. Arthur C. Wilson, Special Advisor, United Nations Multicultural Study of Faiths of the UN Staff Recreation Council, in addition to Mr. Moratinos, High Representative for UNAOC.
Martin Luther King III, Swami Svatmananda, Chief Rabbi of England Ephraim Mirvis, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, and Buddhist, Sikh, Muslim, Christian, Jewish, and other religious world leaders offered thoughts on the topic as well.
Photo Credit: UNAOC
“I point out that the civilizational alliance between nations and peoples while understanding the specificity of each civilization, and not interfering in their affairs or offending their followers, is an urgent necessity for the peace of our world and the harmony of its national societies, and this is not an option that we accept or reject, but rather it is a necessity to determine a path and a destiny.”
– Dr. Muhammad Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the World Muslim League.
“Here today, we call for a society of bridges — to create spaces for respect and fraternity. Let us work together to make the voice of reason louder than the sounds of guns.”
— Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for UNAOC
The Holy See recognizes that “interreligious and intercultural dialogue … cannot be reduced to an optional extra. It is in fact a vital necessity, on which in large measure our future depends.”[1]
– Archbishop Caccia, quoting [1] Address of Pope Benedict XVI at the meeting with representatives of some Muslim communities, Cologne, 20 August 2005.
“In the time of protracted conflicts and interlocking crisis, faith-based organizations play a critical role in shepherding their followers. They have an enormous potential and equally huge responsibilities. Faith brings us together, within our own communities and across them.”
– President Korosi, General Assembly
“Amidst this gloomy picture of the world, it is dialogue that stands out as a beacon of hope, it is dialogue that offers a way forward, dialogue based on diversity, inclusivity, listening to others, and respecting each others. Dialogue where everyone is welcome and empowered to contribute, including women and girls, such dialogue that requires a transformed approach to education, one that nurtures a culture of peace and empowers students to thrive in our modern and demanding world.”
– Deputy Secretary General Mohammed
“It is not enough to say we must not wage war — It is necessary to love peace and sacrifice for it. We must concentrate not merely on the negative expulsion of war, but on the positive affirmation of peace. We must see that peace represents a sweeter music, a cosmic melody that is far superior to the discords of war. In short – we must shift the arms race to a peace race. If we have the will and determination to mount such a peace offensive we will unlock hitherto tightly locked doors of hope and transform our imminent cosmic elegy into a cosmic psalm of peace.”
– Martin Luther King III, quoting his father, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Top Photo Credit: UNAOC
