Religious leaders of China, Russia, Middle East and the Vatican will meet in Astaná, Kazakhstan, on September 17 and 18 for the VIII Congress of leaders of world and traditional religions.
The encounter brings together some of the most diverse spiritual voices in a moment of intense global tension. This year’s Congress will focus on the theme “Dialogue between religions: synergy for the future.”
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The Congress is convened by the Kazakhstan government under the sponsorship of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who will officially open the meeting. The organizers also expect Pope Leo XIV to send a special message, following the tradition of papal support to Congress.
For the Vatican, it marks the first great interreligious event under the papacy of Leo XIV and the debut of a completely new papal delegation. Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, newly appointed prefect of the Dicastery for the interreligious dialogue, will pronounce an inaugural speech in the plenary session and read the final declaration at the closing ceremony.
He is accompanied by Fr. Laurent Basanese, SJ, Secretary of Religious Relations with Muslims. The French Jesuit, recognized by his experience in the Christian-Muslman dialogue, will contribute to a working group, will attend the Secretariat meeting and will go to the forum of young religious leaders.
“Since its foundation, it has become a privileged space to promote peace and mutual understanding between religions and cultures,” Basanese told CNA, Ewtn News news agency.
The Vatican delegation also includes P. Vincenzo Marinelli, an apostolic nuncio attached in Kazakhstan, and the Tiziano Tiziano Professor, president of the Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital of the Vatican, who will direct medical cooperation conversations with Kazakh institutions.
An outstanding novelty of this year is the participation of the sovereign order of Malta. On behalf of the Order will be Pasquale Ferrara, diplomatic advisor of the Advisory Council of the Order, who will participate in Congress on September 18.
One of the most anticipated figures in Astaná is the patriarch Kirill de Moscow, whose participation has been officially confirmed. His last assistance to Congress was in 2012. His presence raises the possibility of a maximum level encounter between the Vatican and Moscow since the war in Ukraine.
At the beginning of this summer, Pope León received the Metropolitan Antonio de Volokolamsk in Rome, and the Metropolitan Antonio will return to the eternal city on September 14 for an ecumenical commemoration of the new martyrs in San Pablo Extramuros.
Four days later, Patriarch Kirill will preside over a prayer service in the Cathedral of the Assumption of Astaná for the new martyrs and confessors of Kazakhstan. The two commemorations – one in Rome and another in Astana – underline how the memory of Christian martyrdom provides a common space for dialogue.
Another outstanding participant is Ahmed al-Tayeb, great magnet of Al-Azhar. In 2019, he signed with Pope Francis the historic document on human fraternity in Abu Dhabi, which inspired the United Nations to establish February 4 as the International Day of Human Fraternity a few days before Congress.
Rome welcomed the World Meeting on Human Fraternity on September 12 and 13, where Pope Leo XIV greeted the participants on Friday.
Basenese declared CNA that, for him, the meeting in Astaná is more than symbolic: “The interreligious dialogue, which often requires inexhaustible patience, cannot be reduced to a superficial consensus or a sterile” diplomacy of smiles. ” Actually, it is essential for the mission of the Church. In 2025 we commemorate the 60th anniversary of Our agewho affirmed that the Church ‘does not reject anything that is true and holy in these religions’. The dialogue does not mean giving up the truth, but giving testimony with respect, listening and charity ».
The Congress was first convened in 2003 at the initiative of the first president of Kazakhstan, Nursultán Nazarbáyev, inspired by the inter -religious meeting of Assisi in 1986 and reinforced by the visit of Pope John Paul II to Kazakhstan in 2001. Since then, he is celebrated every three years in Astaná, gathering leaders of the main religions to promote peace and mutual understanding. The Holy See has participated from the beginning, and Pope Francis himself attended the previous Congress, in 2022.
Translated and adapted by the ACI Press team. Originally published in CNA.
Alexey Gotovskiy
Alexey Gotovskiy has worked at the Ewtn office in the Vatican as a journalist, television producer and manager during the last seven years. He was born in the Soviet Union, grew in Russia, grew in Kazakhstan and studied postgraduate studies in ecclesiastical communication at the Roman Pontifical University of the Santa Cruz.