On September 17, 2025, the grand opening of the VIII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions on the theme "Dialogue of Religions: Synergy for the Future" took place in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. The conference is attended by more than 100 religious leaders from 60 countries around the world.
A delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church, led by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, is taking part in the event.
The delegation included Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, head of the Metropolitan District in the Republic of Kazakhstan; Metropolitan Veniamin of Minsk and Zaslavsky, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus; Metropolitan Pavel of Krutitsky and Kolomna, Head of the Moscow Patriarchate's Department for Dioceses in Neighboring Countries; Archimandrite Filaret (Bulekov), Deputy Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate; V.R. Legoyda, Chairman of the Synodal Department for Church-Society Relations and the Media; Priest Ilia Kashitsyn, DECR Secretary for Interreligious Relations.
Among the participants from the Church were also: Bishop Alexy of Ramenskoye, personal secretary of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill; Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, managing director of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, vicar of the Astana diocese; Archpriest Andrey Bondarenko, head of the Patriarchal Protocol Service; representatives of the clergy of the Metropolitan District of Kazakhstan.
On the eve of the Congress, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia met with President of the Republic of Kazakhstan K.Tokayev.
The Congress was attended by the Head of Kazakhstan K.Tokayev, Speaker of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, Head of the Secretariat of the Congress M.S. Ashimbayev, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I, Head of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue of the Roman Catholic Church Cardinal Dorj Jacob Kouvakad, Chairman of the Caucasus Muslim Board Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, Head of the Organization for Culture and Islamic Relations of Iran Khojat-ul-Islam Mohammad Mahdi Imanipour, High Representative UN Secretary General for the Alliance of Civilizations Miguel Angel Moratinos, Secretary General of the World Islamic League Muhammad Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Chief (Sephardic) Rabbi of Israel David Yosef, Deputy Head of the Chogye Buddhist Order Jol Bom, Secretary General of the Council of Muslim Elders Muhammad Abdelsalam, Chief (Ashkenazi) Rabbi of Israel Kalman Ber, Chairman of the Spiritual Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin, Chairman of the Spiritual Board of Muslims of Kazakhstan Mufti Nauryzbai kazhi Taganuly, Chairman of the Spiritual Board Kamil Samigullin, Chairman of the Association of Taoists of China Li Guangfu, is a Muslim of Tatarstan.
Among the delegates of the Congress were also: leaders of the Islamic, Catholic, Lutheran and Jewish communities of Kazakhstan, members of Parliament, diplomats, journalists and experts, representatives of the leadership of Al-Azhar University, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu and other religious communities from China, Japan, Korea, India, Pakistan, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia. Arabia, Egypt, Turkey and other countries.
During the opening of the Congress, President of Kazakhstan K.Tokayev addressed the participants with a welcoming speech.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia spoke next. In his speech, he thanked the leadership of Kazakhstan for organizing the Congresses and paying attention to the interreligious peacemaking dialogue. The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church stressed that attempts to build a world that denies God leave humanity without a future. His Holiness stressed the importance of cooperation between religious leaders and leading international organizations such as the United Nations, noting that the idea of forming an advisory council of religious leaders at the United Nations has not lost its relevance.
"Religious leaders really have something to say to the world so that it becomes at least a little better, brighter and safer in the future," His Holiness Patriarch Kirill said.
There were also speeches by the Secretary General of the World Islamic League, a representative of the Roman Catholic Church, the leader of the Taoist community of China, the chief (Ashkenazi) Rabbi of Israel, His Beatitude the Patriarch of Jerusalem. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the participants in a video message. Then there was a speech by the High Representative of the UN Secretary General for the Alliance of Civilizations, Chairman of the General Directorate for Islamic Affairs, Waqfs and Zakat of the UAE Omar Habtour Al-Darei.
The ceremony of awarding distinguished religious leaders and representatives of international organizations with state awards of Kazakhstan and medals of the Congress, as well as the appointment of Goodwill Ambassadors of the Congress, took place next. Among the awardees was Metropolitan Veniamin of Minsk and Zaslavl.
On the sidelines of the Congress, His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia held brief meetings with Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I, Mufti of Kazakhstan Nauryzbai kazhi Taganuly, Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade. During the meetings, the participants discussed topics of mutual interest, exchanged views on various issues related to religious life and relations between peoples and believers.
The Congress will continue on September 18 in the format of the II interreligious youth forum, panel discussions and an expert round table dedicated to the academic understanding of interreligious dialogue.