A journey of knowledge and discovery to take together on a daily basis and in a great spirit of acceptance, while facing the many challenges that the world presents. We spoke about it with Antonio Salimbeni and Rita Moussallem, the leaders of the Center for Interreligious Dialogue (CDI).
In a global landscape undergoing profound transformation towards an increasingly multicultural and multireligious society, the Focolare Movement promotes dialogue between religions, so that the religious pluralism of humanity is not the cause of divisions and wars, but contributes to brotherhood and peace. Antonio Salimbeni and Rita Moussallem, heads of the Center for Interreligious Dialogue (CDI), answer a few questions.
In light of what affects the world today, in particular the new conflicts which are added to existing conflicts, what contribution can interreligious dialogue make to the construction of a great human family?
Faced with the heartbreaking and shocking events of recent weeks, we feel dismay and deep sadness as well as a sense of perplexity. Religion is often exploited by political powers. We understand how ideologies, religious nationalism and any form of polarization always lead to conflict. Dialogue can help to purify our approach, deepen our knowledge of others and focus our commitment on the essence of our religions, which is our relationship with God, Love and Mercy.
Dialogue can raise the level of our relationships to a deep spiritual dimension and push us to live the deepest human values, to work together to spread Goodness and brotherhood.
How does the Focolare Movement continue its commitment in this area?
The Focolare Movement, founded on a deep spirituality centered on unity and fraternity among all, discovered its vocation for interreligious dialogue more than fifty years ago. Since then, it has established – notably through its Center for Interreligious Dialogue (CDI) and its centers present in different countries – intense and fraternal relationships with thousands of faithful and numerous institutions, associations, movements and organizations of the most religious diverse in the conviction that friendship between people of different faiths constitutes a vital potential for the building of universal fraternity.
It’s a dialogue between brothers. A dialogue nourished by listening, sharing and collaboration. It is a dialogue that makes us discover diversity, whatever it may be, as a gift. The one who is close to me, said Chiara Lubich, founder of the Movement, was created as a gift for me, and I was created as a gift for the one who is close: her formula for a fraternal world.
What are the next scheduled meetings? What are the issues to be addressed and the objectives?
An idea has been maturing for several months: organizing an interfaith conference for the fraternity in June 2024. This becomes even more urgent and necessary in light of the growing crisis which intensifies the divisions of humanity. It is an event that aims to contribute to reconciliation efforts with innovative actions at the global level and to travel the path of dialogue and fraternity by strengthening relationships and cooperation between people of different faiths.
The conference will begin on May 29 and end on June 5, 2024. It will be composed of several moments which will have as a common denominator the theme of peace between peoples and with creation. There will be two open days, one in Castel Gandolfo in collaboration with FaithInvestment organization and one in Assisi with the Laudato Si Movementto celebrate the importance and commitment of different faiths in the care of our common home.
In this urgent undertaking, we are collaborating with Consula global innovation consultancy with presence in America, Europe and Asia, as a global knowledge partner.
Maria Grazia Berretta
