On June 25, representatives of seven of Italy’s major religious traditions gathered at Rome’s Ara Pacis auditorium to sign a landmark interfaith accord. Titled “The Italian Way to Interreligious Dialogue: Religions in Public Space and for Social Cohesion,” the accord was presented as a “fundamental milestone” in consolidating the path established in 2023 with annual meetings at the Italian Bishops’ Conference headquarters. The accord outlines actions such as gathering with respect and in the spirit of dialogue, educating communities to engage in dialogue, collaborating for the common good, opposing any form of prejudice, oppression, discrimination, and extremism, and taking a clear and firm position against hatred and religious persecution.
For the Italian Jewish community, the document was signed by UCEI President Livia Ottolenghi and rav Giuseppe Momigliano of the Italian Rabbinical Assembly. Representatives of the Bahá’í Faith, the Italian Islamic Cultural Center, the Italian Islamic Religious Community, the Italian Islamic Confederacy, the Italian Bishops’ Conference, the Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy, the Tevere Institute, the Sacred Orthodox Archdiocese in Italy, the Sikhi Sewa Society, the Soka Gakkai Italian Buddhist Institute, the Italian Buddhist Union, the Union of Islamic Communities in Italy, and the Italian Hindu Union also signed the pact.
“A common awareness”
The jointly drafted document is “the mature fruit of a path that has solidified our conviction that listening to others and fostering mutual understanding, free from prejudice and stereotypes, is essential to enriching the human and spiritual heritage inherent in every religious tradition,” remarked the president of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, Matteo Zuppi.
Rabbi Momigliano explained that the Italian Rabbinical Assembly participated “in the belief that within this accord and the concrete context of our country, we can acknowledge our shared ethical values, commit to the social well-being of the collectivity, and responsibly project the future.” He emphasized that all actions stemmed from the awareness generated “by the fundamental idea of being the Lord’s creatures.
The UCEI president expressed hope to strengthen “stable collaboration to foster mutual understanding and promote joint initiatives that will help citizens learn about and understand different religious traditions.” She added that “together, we can contribute to social cohesion and mutual respect and build an increasingly inclusive and aware society.” Ottolenghi praised former UCEI president Noemi Di Segni for “paving the way” for this path.
Italian President Sergio Mattarella
In the afternoon, representatives of the signatory communities were received at the Quirinale Palace by Italian President Sergio Mattarella, who was delivered a copy of the document. “This initiative carries and conveys a message of the highest significance during this difficult period,” Mattarella said. He specifically addressed the “young people who have not only accompanied the signatory religious authorities, but essentially participated in elaborating the pact.” Among the youth representatives present was Matias Uriel Girotto, vice president of the Union of Italian Young Jews and an activist with the National Youth Table for Interfaith Dialogue. “Young people are often only mentioned as a theme, but in this case, we are an active subject and intend to remain so. The Youth Table worked synergistically to achieve this result,” Girotto said. He added: “The signing of the pact has been a historic moment. I believe there is not yet a full awareness of the importance of this document for the present and future of interfaith dialogue.”