Factsheet on the VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions and Pope Francis’ visit to Kazakhstan

Factsheet on the VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions and Pope Francis’ visit to Kazakhstan

Overview

The VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions is taking place on September 14-15 in Nur-Sultan. Over 100 delegations from 50 countries, including representatives of Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Shintoism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, and other religions are participating in the event. The theme of this year’s Congress is “The role of leaders of world and traditional religions in the spiritual and social development of humanity in the post-pandemic period”.

President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, also attended the opening of the VII Congress.

Pope Francis is participating in the Congress as part of his state visit to Kazakhstan. It marks the first visit by the Head of the Catholic Church to Kazakhstan since Pope John Paul II traveled to the country in September 2001.

 

Pope Francis’ visit to Kazakhstan

Pope Francis’ meeting with President Tokayev

  • President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev personally welcomed Pope Francis at the international airport in the Kazakh capital.
  • President Tokayev emphasized the historical significance of the Pope’s visit, stating: “This year marks 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and the Vatican. Your visit coincided with this significant date. We attach particular importance to this event since today’s meeting is designed to take our cooperation to a new level.”
  • Pope Francis highlighted the fundamental role of Kazakhstan in promoting inter-ethnic and inter-religious dialogue.
  • The Pope also noted Kazakhstan’s prominence as a link between Europe and Asia. He also expressed appreciation of the country’s contribution to nuclear disarmament, development of environmental policies, and commitment to carbon neutrality.

Meeting with civil society and diplomatic corps

  • President Tokayev and Pope Francis addressed the representatives of civil society and the diplomatic corps on September 13.
  • Pope Francis commended Kazakhstan’s decision to abolish the death penalty, which, as he put it, is an affirmation of the value of human life in the name of the right to hope for every human being.
  • Pope Francis also stated that “we need leaders who at the international level could promote mutual understanding and dialogue between peoples, and revive the Helsinki spirit, the aspiration to strengthen multilateralism, build a more stable and peaceful world, taking care of new generations.” (For reference: The Helsinki process culminated with the 1975 Helsinki Final Act, which saw the birth of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, with 57 member states from Europe, Central Asia and North America. In December 2010, Kazakhstan successfully hosted a OSCE summit held. Kazakhstan has also suggested “updating” the 1975 Helsinki Final.)

Cooperation between Kazakhstan and the Holy See

  • On 14 September, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mukhtar Tileuberdi and Vatican Secretary for Relations with States Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher signed an additional agreement to the one signed between Kazakhstan and the Holy See on mutual relations on Sept. 24, 1998, to enhance cooperation between the states.
  • They stressed the importance of encouraging interfaith harmony and interreligious communication, one of the critical tasks of the seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.

 

VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions

President Tokayev’s meeting with representatives

  • President Tokayev met with representatives of international organizations, religious leaders, and heads of religious universities on September 13 on the eve of the seventh Congress,
  • During the meeting with the High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilization Miguel Ángel Moratinos, the sides discussed future collaboration between Kazakhstan and the UNAOC. Moratinos praised the Congress’s high level of organization and expressed hope that its outcomes will contribute to fostering peace, harmony, and inter-religious dialogue.
  • Patriarch Theophilus III of Jerusalem stated that the role of world leaders in advocating the ideals of peace, harmony, and mutual respect is imperative.
  • Tokayev addressed the importance of religious education during a meeting with the Supreme Imam of the Al-Azhar University, Ahmed at-Tayeb. He said that Kazakhstan considers the university a “beacon, spreading the light of the values ​​of our common religion – Islam.”

Opening of the VII Congress

  • Welcoming the participants of the forum on September 14, President Tokayev said the Congress became a platform for inter-civilizational dialogue at the global level.
  • In his welcoming address to the Congress, Pope Francis quoted the great Kazakh poet and thinker Abai Kunanbayev, saying “The basis of peace is love and justice”. The Pontiff also urged the participants to be mindful of the horrors and mistakes of the past.
  • Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres praised the government of Kazakhstan for hosting the seventh Congress of in his video address to the participants.
  • As a result of the Congress, the participants will adopt a declaration, which will be distributed during the 77th session of the UN General Assembly this month.