Kyoto Conference of religions for peace: confronting violence, advancing shared advocacy

(01 Sep. 2006) : “At a time when religion is being high-jacked by extremists, the religious leaders gathered in Kyoto to demonstrate for the entire world the power of religious communities, to illuminate the path to peace when they work together,” said Dr. William F. Vendley, Secretary General of Religions for Peace. “The Kyoto Declaration offers a new vision of shared security that properly places religious communities at the center of efforts to confront violence in all its forms,” he added. Dr. Vendley was speaking at the Eighth World Assembly of Religions for Peace – Representing all major religious traditions, where over eight hundred religious leaders from more than a hundred countries participated in Kyoto, Japan from the 26th to 29th August. The theme of the conference was “Confronting Violence and Advancing Shared Security”.
Archbishop Vincent Concessao of Delhi said, “Dialogue between representatives of communities and countries in conflict began at the conference and their coming together and sharing their agony and experience for a new future was a clear indication that peace is possible, and that no matter what the past has been it can be transcended when all work together for the common goal of justice and peace. The participants also met religionwise and regionwise for more specific sharing and deliberations,” he said. Pope Benedict XVI sent his message to the Conference read by Cardinal Stephen Fumio Hamao. There were many cardinals, bishops, clergy and religious who participated in the Conference from all over the world together with their other Christian counterparts and people of major religious traditions.