This year marks the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the groundbreaking declaration of the Second Vatican Council that fundamentally transformed Catholic-interfaith relations. In 1965, the Catholic Church opened an unprecedented door to interreligious dialogue, acknowledging the truth and holiness found in other religions and calling for mutual understanding, respect, and collaboration.

From its affirmation of the shared spiritual heritage with Judaism to its recognition of Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and other world religions, Nostra Aetate marked a historic milestone in promoting reconciliation and overcoming centuries of prejudice and misunderstanding.

Walking in the legacy of Nostra Aetate, on October 27, 1986, Pope John Paul II convened representatives of the world’s religions in Assisi—the hometown of Saint Francis, a champion of interfaith dialogue—to pray for peace under threat from Cold War tensions. The encounter became a lasting symbol of dialogue and common commitment to peace among believers of different faiths.

Over the decades, this commitment has found new expressions and interfaith initiatives worldwide. The 2019 Document on Human Fraternity, signed by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, in Abu Dhabi, represents the culmination of this path toward understanding and cooperation.

At its core, Nostra Aetate frames interreligious dialogue not as an optional exercise but as an indispensable tool for promoting social justice, peace, and the overcoming of divisions. This precisely aligns with KAICIID‘s mandate, given to it upon its founding in 2012 as an interfaith initiative of Pope Benedict XVI and King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, in his role as Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

The Centre was established to foster interreligious and intercultural dialogue and to counter the misuse of religion to justify violence or oppression. KAICIID will actively participate in the conference “Towards the Future: Re-Thinking Nostra Aetate Today,” organized by the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, October 27–29, 2025.

Looking ahead, Nostra Aetate continues to inspire concrete dialogue efforts. Next year will mark the 10th anniversary of the KAICIID-supported Muslim-Jewish Leadership Council (MJLC), providing an important opportunity to strengthen Muslim-Jewish dialogue in Europe—a continent where antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred remain pressing concerns and an increasing threat to social cohesion and peaceful coexistence.

The vision of Nostra Aetate—peace through interfaith dialogue—remains vital today, calling us to renew our commitment to trust-building and collaboration between Muslim and Jewish communities. At a time when growing global tensions deeply affect people of both faiths across Europe, sustained dialogue and mutual understanding are more essential than ever.

Sixty years on, Nostra Aetate remains not a relic of the past but a living call—to bridge divides, nurture empathy, and work together for a world where faith becomes a force for justice, compassion, and shared humanity. Building on a decade of valuable experience in Europe, where the MJLC has served as a bridge against growing antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred, KAICIID seeks to extend this dialogue further, fostering a renewed vision of coexistence rooted in dignity and fraternity.