Second meeting of religious leaders in Italy – Chiesacattolica.it

How can religions help create cohesion in society? This was discussed by the leaders of the religions present in Italy, who on 25 June met in Rome, at the CEI headquarters, for a spiritual conversation organized by the Episcopal Commission for Ecumenism and Dialogue. “Collaboration to help us, to dialogue, also facing the fatigue of history, must not make us lose sight of the need to reach out to those who suffer: the pain of one cannot be contrasted with that of the other; indeed, when pain is collected it can be a reason for love. This is what we are aiming for”, stated Monsignor Giuseppe Baturi, Archbishop of Cagliari and General Secretary of the CEI, recalling that “the affirmation of God cannot be a reason for violence, ever”. “Religion – he observed – divides when it affirms a God who is opposed to others, whereas the affirmation of a transcendent God is a reason for peace because it leads us to look at the other as a brother and to be able to recognize in the other that good that I pursue ”.
During the meeting, the second after last year, “we tried to see what we are already doing and in what perspective we can work”, explained Mgr. Derio Olivero, bishop of Pinerolo and president of the CEI Commission, underlining that ” a step forward has been taken, as we have taken into consideration more precise issues: the question of education and training, peace, young people, political participation”.
The meeting was also an opportunity to define some concrete steps: “in the fall, we would like to meet to develop a worksheet with some programmatic lines relating to the way of being in public space and the contribution to the social cohesion of public space”. All of this, specifies Monsignor Olivero, to be shared with the various communities in the territory in view of the final drafting of a document. Furthermore, in 2026 a symposium of religions will be proposed “to broaden the discussion not only to the leaders and heads of religions, but to bring it to the base and make a broader reflection”. Finally, it was decided to continue the experience of the working table of young representatives of religions who are in Italy.