Religious leaders, judges, government officials and representatives of the Holy See gathered to promote interreligious dialogue, equality before the law and peaceful coexistence.

ISLAMABAD — The Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA), in collaboration with the Apostolic Nunciature in Pakistan, organized a landmark National Interfaith Harmony & Peace Conference at the Islamabad High Court Bar Association Complex in Islamabad, under the theme “Building Bridges of Faith, Justice & Peace.”

The conference brought together national and international personalities, representatives of the Holy See, diplomats, parliamentarians, judges, legal professionals, religious scholars, spiritual leaders, human rights activists and civil society representatives. Its goal was to promote interfaith harmony, constitutional equality, religious freedom, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence in Pakistan.

A delegation from the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue of the Holy See participated, comprising Msgr. Indunil Janakaratne Kodithuwakku Kankanamalage, Secretary of the Dicastery, and Fr. Markus Solo Kewuta, SVD, Official for Islam in Asia and the Pacific. Their participation highlighted the Catholic Church’s continued commitment to strengthening dialogue, mutual understanding and fraternity among followers of different religions in Pakistan.

In his welcome address, the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Germano Penemote, spoke of the Holy See’s diplomacy in safeguarding human dignity, justice and peace while respecting the freedom and sovereignty of each people and nation. He said the Holy See “does not remain indifferent when human life is endangered, destroyed or discriminated against,” and is present alongside the poor and suffering, especially through education, healthcare and charitable assistance.

He expressed hope that the conference could contribute to a culture in which religious diversity is approached with respect rather than fear, and in which socio-political differences become opportunities for cooperation rather than sources of division and conflict.

Msgr. Kodithuwakku grounded his reflection on the conference theme in Church documents and teaching, from Nostra Aetate to Magnifica Humanitas. He said a society grows stronger, not weaker, when people of different convictions can live together peacefully, contribute to the common good and protect one another from injustice.

He quoted Pakistan’s founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who told the nation that its citizens are free to go to their temples, mosques or any other places of worship, and that religion, caste or creed has nothing to do with the business of the State. Msgr. Kodithuwakku pleaded for equal citizenship and for the protection of every person’s fundamental rights and dignity, including those of so-called minorities, and invited the people of Pakistan to work and serve together for the common good.

Fr. Markus Solo Kewuta, SVD, welcomed the conference as the very first of its kind from the High Court Bar Association, born from two visits to the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue and supported by the Apostolic Nuncio and the local Catholic bishops. He stressed an indispensable interdependence between faith, justice and peace: faith must be translated into justice, where there is justice there is peace, and peace is the barometer of a healthy nation. In a plural society troubled by religious fanaticism and fundamentalism, he said, the concept of moderation, or wasatiyyah, in living one’s faith deserves consideration.

These observations reinforced the conference’s central message: interfaith harmony requires more than goodwill. It demands equality before the law, responsible religious leadership, protection of fundamental rights, and the courage to address sensitive issues through dialogue and constructive cooperation. Participants stressed that Pakistan’s religious and cultural diversity should be a source of strength rather than division.

The conference also reflected the Catholic Church’s teaching on interreligious relations, particularly the Second Vatican Council’s declaration Nostra Aetate, which encourages mutual respect, recognition of spiritual values in other traditions, and cooperation for peace and the common good. Pope Francis, in Fratelli Tutti (No. 198), points out that authentic dialogue involves listening, understanding and finding common ground. The participation of the Vatican delegation, the report notes, underscored that interreligious dialogue is not simply an exchange of ideas but a shared responsibility to protect human dignity, promote fraternity and serve humanity.

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Catholic Commission for Interreligious Dialogue (CCID), His Excellency Msgr. Indunil and Fr. Markus Solo, SVD, from the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue at the Vatican, together with His Excellency Bishop Yousaf Sohan, Chairman of CCID, presented an award to Pandit Rakesh Chand in recognition of his contributions to interreligious harmony and dialogue. The ceremony was held at Bishop House, Rawalpindi.

The gathering concluded with a renewed call for political leadership, the judiciary, religious institutions, the legal fraternity and civil society to work together beyond religious, cultural and social differences, and to ensure that every citizen enjoys equal dignity, security, freedom, justice and belonging, regardless of religious identity. The conference reaffirmed the importance of building bridges between religious communities, constitutional institutions and the legal fraternity for a more inclusive and peaceful Pakistan.