The head of the Albanian Orthodox Church, Archbishop John of Tirana and All Albania, has called on religious communities to play a greater role in promoting peace, mutual respect, and social harmony, saying that faith should never be used to justify hatred or violence.

The archbishop made the remarks at the European Regional Forum of the organization Religions for Peace Europe, held in Tirana on July 21 as part of the “Shared Sacred Flourishing” program, according to Radio Ngjallja.

In his address, Archbishop John emphasized that interreligious dialogue does not require people to abandon their own beliefs. Instead, he said, it involves recognizing and respecting the spiritual identity of others.

“Religious communities have a special responsibility to serve peace, heal wounds, and strengthen bonds within society,” the archbishop said.

Discussing the role of religion in the modern world, Archbishop John referred to the legacy of his predecessor, the late Archbishop Anastasios, who devoted much of his work to the study of religions and described humanity’s search for the divine as a “search for the Transcendent.”

The current head of the Albanian Church stressed that the search for God should not become a source of conflict, hatred, or violence.

According to Archbishop John, followers of different religions may have theological differences, but these differences do not prevent them from working together in service of humanity. He identified peace, love, respect for human dignity, and assistance to those in need as shared values that can unite communities.

“People can disagree with one another without hatred. They can bear witness to their faith without insulting others. They can cooperate while preserving the distinctiveness of their traditions,” he said.

The archbishop also highlighted Albania’s own historical experience, noting that the country endured decades of state atheism and restrictions on religious life during the 20th century. He said the peaceful coexistence of different religious communities in modern Albania demonstrates how faith can contribute to dialogue and mutual understanding.

The Religions for Peace Europe forum brings together representatives of various faith traditions to discuss peacemaking, social responsibility, and cooperation among religious communities.