Nine Faith Traditions Sign Westminster Pledge for Peace and Human Dignity

Religious leaders from nine faith traditions have signed a shared pledge for peace and human dignity at Westminster Cathedral Hall in London, committing themselves to dialogue, justice and the equal worth of every person. The signing, held on Saturday, October 17, was the centrepiece of an event titled “Religions as Builders of Peace in the Spirit of Assisi,” marking forty years since the landmark interfaith gathering convened in Assisi in 1986.

The gathering brought together Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, who heads the Vatican’s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, with representatives of the Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Baháʼí, Zoroastrian, Jain, Jewish, Buddhist and Sikh communities. Cardinal Vincent Nichols addressed the assembly before the room heard nine prayers, one from each tradition, followed by a period of shared silence and the signing itself.

What the pledge actually promises

The document is more than ceremonial language. It rejects violence, terrorism and hatred as incompatible with authentic religion, and condemns any attempt to invoke God or faith to justify war. It commits the signatories to tackle the conditions that breed hatred and extremism, to promote education in mutual respect, and to defend fundamental rights and the rule of law.

It also pledges solidarity with people who are poor, displaced, persecuted or neglected, and connects peace with care for the natural world, noting that environmental damage and competition over scarce resources fall hardest on poorer communities and can fuel conflict. Signatories included Muslim scholar Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, Sikh leader Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia, Jain representative Dr Mehool Sanghrajka and Buddhist Society president Dr Desmond Biddulph.

A statement whose value will be tested in practice

The pledge is a moral commitment rather than a political agreement, and its organisers are candid that its worth will be measured by what follows: sustained dialogue, practical cooperation and visible support for people facing harm. At a moment when religious identity is frequently invoked in public disputes, the sight of nine traditions praying in one another’s presence — and then signing the same page — was itself the message.

Source: London Daily News