The 8th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions opens today in Kazakhstan’s capital, with the plenary session chaired by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Russia will be represented by several religious figures, including Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus', head of the Russian Orthodox Church.
According to the organizing committee, this year’s congress is held under the theme “Dialogue of Religions: Synergy for the Future.” More than 100 delegations from around 60 countries are expected to take part, including spiritual leaders of Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism, Taoism, Zoroastrianism, and Shinto, as well as representatives of international organizations.
The list of participants includes Secretary General of the Muslim World League Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem and All Palestine, Israel’s Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Kalman Meir Bar, Sephardi Chief Rabbi David Yosef, among others.
Maulen Ashimbayev, speaker of the Kazakh Senate and head of the congress secretariat, previously said the forum would also discuss Tokayev’s peace initiatives. At a secretariat meeting on September 16, Ashimbayev stressed that “mechanisms of international security are losing effectiveness, while protectionism and unilateral actions are on the rise,” underlining the need to unite constructive forces worldwide to reduce tensions.
History of the Congress and the 2025 Agenda
The Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions has been held in Astana since 2003 at the initiative of Kazakhstan’s authorities. By 2025, participation has grown more than fivefold compared to the first gathering, which brought together 17 delegations from 13 countries. The most recent congress was held in 2022, focusing on religion’s role in the post-pandemic era. At that session, participants adopted a development roadmap through 2033 and approved the creation of a forum for young religious leaders.
This year’s program also includes the forum of young religious leaders. In addition, a Park of Peace and Harmony is scheduled to open in Astana, along with several roundtables on themes such as spiritual values in the age of artificial intelligence, countering extremism, and the role of religions in uniting humanity. Several exhibitions will also be held alongside the congress.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Andy_Bay/Pixabay
Based on TASS materials