The idea put forward by Indonesia's Minister of Religious Affairs and Grand Imam of Istiqlal Mosque, Nasaruddin Umar, on the importance of putting real humanitarian action first has received strong support from world religious leaders. The Minister presented the idea at the Sant'Egidio International Meeting for Peace in Assisi, Italy.
Speaking at the high-level opening session, titled “Opening Assembly – Unarmed and Disarming Peace,” the Minister urged a paradigm shift in global diplomacy so that relations among religious communities are realized through concrete steps that directly benefit people. The idea was welcomed and reinforced by various international religious figures in attendance.
Beyond "Peace on Paper"
In a forum attended by hundreds of delegates from many countries, the Minister pointed to the limits of traditional interfaith summits, which often get stuck in symbolic gestures. In his view, global harmony requires tactical steps that have a direct impact on communities.
“Interfaith dialogue must not stop at formal joint declarations, signatures, or agreements on paper,” Minister Nasaruddin Umar stressed in Assisi on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
“True peace demands that dialogue be actively transformed into real action and environmental conservation movements that directly ease the burdens of communities at the grassroots,” he continued.
Religion as an Instrument of Strategic Diplomacy
The Minister urged world leaders to begin adopting the “language of religion” as a core mechanism in international relations. In his view, a spiritual framework can reduce deep-rooted psychological hostility at a time when conventional political and military maneuvers often reach a dead end.
As concrete evidence, the Minister presented Indonesia's model of pluralism and living harmony as a case study of how diversity can be managed to maintain everyday stability and concord. Reinforcing this idea further affirms Indonesia's active role in promoting religious moderation (Wasaṭiyyah Islam) and harmony across borders at the global level.
Support from World Religious Leaders
The practical diplomacy idea presented by the Minister was welcomed and reinforced by the world religious leaders present. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, President of the Italian Episcopal Conference, supported the view on the urgency of eliminating rigid, aggressive, or conflict-driven mindsets. Cardinal Zuppi also agreed that religious institutions must actively disarm hostility through voices that cross borders for the sake of human dignity.
Similar support came from Chief Rabbi Haïm Korsia, Chief Rabbi of France, who stressed the importance of moving beyond ceremony. Chief Rabbi Korsia affirmed that cooperation among religious leaders on local humanitarian projects creates a far firmer foundation for peace than political agreements alone.
Delegates of the Eastern Orthodox and ecumenical Christian communities also welcomed Indonesia's pluralism model. He pointed to the 2024 Istiqlal Declaration, signed by the Minister together with Pope Francis in Jakarta, as a blueprint showing that major theological differences need not lead to conflict.
The opening session closed with a shared commitment by all panelists to carry the “Spirit of Assisi 1986” forward, from a dialogue forum into a practical instrument of international diplomacy focused on humanitarian action, environmental conservation, and lasting world peace. (hkp)
