Emiliano Stornelli, Chairman of Religion and Security Council, Rome spoke at a webinar on ‘Human Fraternity Document (HFD): In the Light of Interreligious Relations in West Asia’ on 29 September 2023 organized by Islamic Studies Association, Delhi. 

The Religion and Security Council promotes conflict resolution and cooperative approach to security through active engagement in the religious dimensions of international crises.  The Council raises awareness on the means and guiding principles that religions can provide to support peace-making efforts and defuse confrontational situations.  

Stornelli invited the participants, who were on-line from Europe to Asia-Pacific, to discover the great potential of HFD which constitutes an invitation to reconciliation and fraternity among all people of goodwill. He pointed out that HFD invites educators, peace activists and all people of good will to find ways to defuse tension, facilitate mutual cooperation, create bonds based on trust and respect among groups that preserve in their memories malicious prejudices and hatred for one another.

The presentation was followed by a lively conversation based on establishing Human Fraternity Forums in Coimbatore (India) and Tripoli (Lebanon). 

– Victor Edwin, SJ (DEL)