The symposium of religions in Italy should take place in the autumn of 2026. The decision was made on the occasion of the meeting “The Italian route of interreligious dialogue”, which took place on Tuesday 25 June at the CEI, in Rome, on the impulse of the Episcopal Commission for ecumenism and dialogue of the Italian Episcopal Conference.
The meeting had the format of the “spiritual conversation” between believers of different religions in Italy, an experience of dialogue that in recent years has had a certain continuity and that has contributed to creating a climate of listening and perceptible respect both in the official and more convivial moments, such as common lunch. Monsignor Derio Oliverobishop of Pinerolo, and president of the episcopal commission for ecumenism and dialogue, opened the works by proposing the vision of a picture of Edward Hopper (1882-1967). Room by the Seafrom 1951, represents a room overlooking the sea and for Monsignor Olivero the canvas well represents the sense of disorientation of today’s man. “God is close, but we struggle to intercept him,” says Olivero, “but religions can be our platforms to go to intercept transcendence”.
In the work sheet prepared in view of the symposium we read that “every religious tradition brings with them values, experiences and a search for the sacred that deserve to be listened to and understood”. Therefore “the experience of God” represents a common ground for the encounter and collaboration.
In the various interventions, the importance of dialogue and care of words is underlined. “The dialogue is not only to talk to us, but also the understanding and recognition of the other’s sufferings. In a world on fire we must act as a portal door so as not to make the fires that burn elsewhere beat here,” he says RAV Gadi Pipernochief rabbi of Florence.
Yassine BaradaiSecretary General of Ucoii (Union of Islamic Communities and Organizations in Italy) recalls that the dialogue must also be a tool of prayer and underlines a concept: “Dialogue is composed of feelings and words. Often words divide us, they are bad interpreted and create resentment.
Filippo Sciannapresident of the Italian Buddhist Union, proposes the creation of an interfed fund to encourage dialogue, culture and solidarity, “to give concrete support to shared humanitarian initiatives”. The proposal is shared by Imam Yahya Pallavicinivice president of the Italian Islamic religious community (Coreis), who also proposes a reflection on the world of work, to face “with spiritual sensitivity”, themes such as profit and economy.
The theologian Giuseppina De Simone He warns against the risk of the exploitation of religions, which instead invites to “rediscover a regenerating ability, because they know how to bring back to the inner root where the words with meaning are born”.
For the participants in the meeting “Dialogue is an irreversible choice” and Monsignor Olivero asks for formal commitment not to abandon the dialogue table, so as to trace a way that exceeds two excesses: neutrality and integrity. The commitment is to work for the common good. Incalzed by Don Giuliano Savinadirector of the National Office for Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue (UNEDI), the participants in the meeting chose the members of the organizational secretariat in view of the 2026 symposium. Before the conclusion of the meeting, he brought his greeting to the participants Monsignor Giuseppe BaturiGeneral Secretary of the CEI.
