Pope Leo XIV calls for peace at inter-religious meeting in Assisi

Pope Leo XIV addressed an international inter-religious gathering in Assisi, Italy, held from October 25 to 27, 2026. The event, themed “Disarmed and Disarming Peace,” marked the 40th anniversary of the original peace meeting convened by Pope John Paul II in 1986.

Organized by the Community of Sant'Egidio, the summit brought together over 380 religious leaders representing Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Protestantism, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Sikhism, Taoism, and Zoroastrianism. Discussions focused on armed conflict, disarmament, migration, and the environmental crisis.

In a video message, Pope Leo XIV urged religious leaders to reject any religious justification for war, stating, “War can never be waged in the name of God!” He emphasized that peace cannot be built on fear or power dynamics, but must rely on trust and dialogue. During the event, Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople and Cardinal Matteo Zuppi also spoke, advocating for dialogue to overcome global divisions and suffering caused by current conflicts.