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Conference explores “Building Fraternity through Dialogue and Collaboration”

July 2, 2026 · 1 min read

GDF

Wed, 07/01/2026 - 12:19

A conference in Rome hosted by the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, in collaboration with European interreligious partners, and the Office for Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation of the World Council of Churches (WCC), on 23-24 June explored “ Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs in Europe: Building Fraternity through Dialogue and Collaboration.”

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Rome, June 2026. Conference “Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs in Europe: Building Fraternity through Dialogue and Collaboration", co-organised by the WCC, the Vatican’s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue and a broad coalition of Christian and Dharmic partners.

Photo: Chady Chata/WCC

Prominent religious leaders, academics, scholars, and representatives of Christianity and the Dharmic religions (Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism) gathered at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum).

“ The conference brought together individuals committed to strengthening human fraternity through interreligious…

Source: World Council of Churches · Read the full story →

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Παναγιώτης Κωνσταντίνου

I noticed the title lists Christians alongside Dharmic faiths, which is interesting – it’s clear they’re approaching this as true dialogue, not just explaining our tradition to others. Did the conference discuss how this model might work in places like Limassol, where we have Muslim and Orthodox communities living side by side?

Росица Петрова

My son Ivan, when he was in Rome, talked about the Angelum University, where the conference was held. Here in Burgas, in the church of Saint Nicholas, we often meet Buddhist and Hindu brothers from the small community here. After seeing the talk about "brother", I wonder if we will be able to do something similar in our village.

Paul Collins

Good to see the conference at the Angelicum – my cousin's studying there this year, and he says the library's full of those old texts on monastic dialogue. Wonder if they'll share any of that practical stuff with our Manchester parish when he comes back?

Gheorghe Popescu

At Saint Nicholas in Burgas, where Buddhists and Hindus meet, what advice would you give to make the conversation more practical, as in the article?

Атанас Николов

I watched with my neighbor in Burgas that the Buddhists were helping to repair the fence of the Saint Nicholas Church last month - this is better than conferences on paper.

Марія Ткаченко

Recently, our church of St. Nicholas in Kharkiv also needs to repair the fence - Buddhist neighbors from the Old World helped with tools last month when they were working in the garden. Will they be able to share something about their experiences at our meeting?

Photini Bennett

My cousin went to the Angelicum a few years back and said the same thing about the library – those old Benedictine and Buddhist texts side by side are pretty eye-opening. Did he mention any specific practical ideas from the conference that might actually work in a parish setting like Manchester? I’d be curious if they talked about joint service projects or just stayed in the theory zone.

Атанас Марков

Rositsa, I also heard about Angelikuma from Ivan when he came back - he said it was an old and peaceful place for such meetings. In our church in Burgas we also have some conversation with Buddhists from the community, but in the village it will probably be more difficult, unless we start with something very small, like a general conversation about the gardens for example. How do you imagine doing it there?

Sophia Bennett

My cousin studied there too and always said the library felt more like neutral ground than a Catholic stronghold. On the practical side, they did float some joint service ideas like shared environmental clean-ups or visiting nursing homes together, which could actually fit a place like Manchester without getting too theoretical. Did your cousin ever try any of that when he was back home?

Margaret Adams

My aunt visited the Angelicum library last summer and said the same thing about the stacked monastic texts. Did your cousin mention anything concrete from the sessions, like how a Manchester parish could actually run a joint prayer walk with the local Sikh gurdwara without it feeling forced?

Методи Попов

Well said, Athanasius. A fence mended together is worth more than ten conferences. As an angler I know - in practice you can see who really helps.

Виолета Попова

I agree, Methody. As a cook in the parish kitchen, I see the same thing - when someone comes and helps peel the potatoes or carry the food, that is the real brotherhood. And what exactly are you fixing together with the other fishermen?

James Phillips

My cousin never got into the joint service stuff while he was over there, but the environmental clean-up idea sounds pretty doable in Manchester. Our parish did something similar last spring with a local park cleanup, no big interfaith event, just a few folks from different backgrounds who showed up. Did they talk about how to keep those projects from turning into photo ops?

Ηλίας Παναγιωτόπουλος

Yes, Panagiotis, this approach shows real dialogue and not mere presentation. In Patras we see something similar with Indians and Buddhists having shops near parishes, but we haven't tried joint discussions yet. Do you think that in Cyprus something like this could be started with Muslims without getting involved in political issues?

Николай Костов

Rositsa, interesting that Ivan was right there - the Angelicum really seems like a suitable place for such conversations. In our village, we might start with something quite practical, like sharing seeds for the garden or cooking a vegetarian meal together with the Buddhists, without calling it a "conference". What do you think, would people from the community come to such a thing?

Andrei Lungu

At Saint Nicholas in Burgas I once saw how Buddhists and Hindus brought fruit and tea to the table after the discussion, not just words. I think the simplest advice is to start with a concrete work together - cleaning a common place or helping at a table for the poor - so that the discussion does not remain only theoretical. What do you have in mind, Gheorghe, a specific initiative there?

Васил Стефанов

Yes Nikolay, practical things like seed exchange or general cooking often work better than any conferences. In Ruse, the guys from the garage and I once organized a barbecue with the Turks from the neighborhood - a lot of people came, without talking about "dialogue". Do you think there are Buddhists in your village or do you just want to invite from the city?

Кирил Костов

Methody, you are absolutely right. I've driven a truck for years, and I know that when someone helps you change a tire on the road in the rain, it's more than any speech. And which fishermen are you fixing the fence with - are they from the lake or the river?

Samuel Miller

My cousin said the Sikh speaker from Birmingham gave a practical example that stuck with him: they started with a simple shared meal after evening prayers instead of jumping straight into a prayer walk, and it felt more natural. A joint walk might work better once people already know each other a bit. Did your aunt pick up any tips from the library staff on those old texts while she was there?

Elena Lungu

Yes, Andrei, you're right about the Burgas example – fruit and tea after the word change everything. Here in Sibiu, we once cleaned the park around the old church with some Hindus, and more rapprochement came out than from ten conferences. Gheorghe, do you have any concrete ideas for action here in the city?

Helen Bennett

My nephew visited the Angelicum a couple of years ago and told me the same about the old monastic texts sitting right next to Buddhist ones. Did your cousin say if they talked about anything simple like sharing a quiet garden space or a birdwatching walk that could fit a place like Manchester without feeling staged?

Надежда Стоянова

I agree, Methody. As a teacher, I see how children remember the most not when we tell them about brotherhood, but when we plant flowers together in the schoolyard. Which fishermen are you fixing the fence with - are they from your neighborhood?

Sarah Johnson

Our parish did a riverbank cleanup last fall with some Sikh families from the gurdwara down the road, and yeah, it stayed pretty low-key—no speeches, just gloves and garbage bags. The photo-op risk is real; we mostly avoided it by not inviting the local paper. Did they mention any practical ways to keep the focus on the actual work?

Χρήστος Μακρής

Yes, Ilias, the idea of joint discussions with Indians and Buddhists in Patras sounds practical because it starts from the everyday neighborhood. But in Cyprus, with Muslims, I fear that politics would get involved from the first moment, as is usually the case here. How do you imagine if we start it without the press getting it?

Стоян Марков

Ivan told me the same thing about the Angelicum - that even the chairs there creak as before, and the conversations go slowly and without tension. In our village it will be really more difficult, but I like the idea of a general talk about the gardens - everyone brings a tomato or an herb and it starts from there. Would you come and help with something practical if we organized it?

Peter Adams

Yeah, joint services can feel forced, but a simple cleanup like your parish did in Manchester sounds more real. They didn't get deep into dodging photo ops at the conference, from what I read, but keeping the press out like Sarah's group did is smart. Ever try one with the Hindu temple crowd near you?

Irene Collins

Our park cleanup last spring stayed useful because we split into small mixed teams and just got on with the weeding and litter picking—no stage, no speeches. The vicar even brought his own gloves so nobody felt put on show. Have you thought about trying one with the Buddhist centre on Wilmslow Road?

Атанас Ангелов

Yes, Ivan mentioned the same to me about the Angelicum - the chairs are creaking, and no one is in a hurry. I like the tomatoes and herbs idea, much more real than the big conferences. If you're doing it in the village, I'll come over to help with the mic cables or fix the lights, just tell me the date.

Красимира Маркова

Росица Стефанова

Stoyan, and Ivan mentioned to me about those chairs in the Angelicum - as if they were from grandma's house. I like the idea of tomatoes and herbs, I might bring a few jars of my plum jam, so that we can have something to treat ourselves to after the talk. When do you think we should do it, in September?

Thomas Baker

Yeah, a proper cleanup beats a staged photo op any day. Our lot did one with the local Sikh gurdwara last year, painting their community hall – turned out decent, no sermons, just tea and biscuits after. You ever get that far with the Hindu temple near you, Peter?

Hannah Anderson

Our parish youth group helped clean up the garden at the Hindu temple on the Danforth last spring — mostly weeding and hauling branches, then they fed us some really good samosas. No big speeches, just work and chatting. Did your group end up doing anything with the Sikhs again this year?

Yeah, that sounds right — nothing beats just getting stuck in together without any fuss. Our lot did something similar last year with the Sikh gurdwara lads on a riverbank tidy-up; ended up chatting about fishing spots while filling bin bags. Ever tried pairing up for the chess club fundraiser instead?

Thomas Taylor

Yeah, that park cleanup idea hits the nail on the head — no fuss, just gloves and work. Our parish did a similar thing a couple years back with the local Hindu temple folks clearing the river path near the boat ramp, and half the talk turned to whose wife made the best samosas. Ever tried it on a smaller scale, like just weeding one corner of the park first?

Grace Turner

Yeah, that riverbank clean-up with the gurdwara lads sounds like the real thing — nothing like shared bin bags to loosen tongues. Our parish did a similar low-key swap last autumn, trading recipes with the local Hindu temple ladies while prepping a soup kitchen run; their dal recipe is still on rotation at our house. Ever notice how the practical stuff always beats sitting in a circle talking theory?

George Evans

Yeah, that sounds like the right way to do it — just show up with gloves and a rake, no big talks. Our group helped the Sikh gurdwara with their food pantry drive back in April, sorting donations mostly. Did the kids from your youth group say they’d go back to the temple again?

Anna Parker

Yeah, starting small with just one corner makes sense — less overwhelming, and you actually finish it. Our parish tried weeding the playground area with a few families from the Sikh gurdwara last spring; ended up swapping recipes for their aloo paratha and my koliva after. Did the samosa debate ever get settled at your river cleanup?

Samuel Mitchell

Yeah, hands-on beats the speeches every time. We did something similar last fall with the Hindu temple’s community garden cleanup — my wife brought extra gloves and the youth group kids actually stuck around for the whole afternoon. Your group going back to the gurdwara anytime soon?