The international interfaith forum “Dare Peace” concluded in Rome on Tuesday, bringing together representatives of different religions and cultures to discuss concrete steps toward ending wars and fostering global peace. The event was organized by the Catholic Community of Sant’Egidio and reported by Vatican News.

By the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, participated in the forum. During his visit, he attended several thematic sessions and held meetings with Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania, Catholicos-Patriarch Mar Awa III of the Assyrian Church of the East, and Russia’s Ambassador to the Holy See, Ivan Soltanovsky, according to the official website of the Synodal Department for External Church Relations.

The closing ceremony took place at the ancient Roman Colosseum, which has become a symbolic place of prayer for peace. Pope Leo XIV presided over the ceremony, leading a prayer and delivering a moving address focused on peace and reconciliation.

In a brief exchange, Metropolitan Anthony conveyed greetings and good wishes from Patriarch Kirill to the Pope.

“The world is sacred — not war,” Pope Leo XIV said, emphasizing that no conflict can ever be justified in the name of faith. “Enough of wars, with their pain, destruction, and exile. Peace is a path of constant reconciliation, and prayer has the power to change history.”

Addressing representatives of Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and Hinduism, the Pope highlighted humanity’s deep longing for peace and urged political leaders to “recognize their responsibility before God to preserve peace and prevent war.”

Participants unanimously declared that war is a “defeat of humanity” and that indifference to the suffering of millions of children, women, and the elderly is unacceptable. They called for a “disarmed and disarming peace” — one built on dialogue rather than the buildup of weapons.

Marco Impagliazzo, President of the Community of Sant’Egidio, noted that the forum continues the tradition begun in 1986 in Assisi by Saint John Paul II. “Peace is always possible,” he said. “Prayer can change history, because God hears the cry of those who suffer from war.”

According to the Sant’Egidio Community’s website, the next interfaith forum — marking the 40th anniversary of the ‘Spirit of Assisi’ — will be held in Assisi in 2026, the city of Saint Francis, where the tradition first began.