Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem participated today in the 8th Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Kazakhstan at the gracious invitation of Kassym-Jomart Kemeluly Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, where he delivered an address on the sacred vocation of interreligious dialogue and the divine gift of synergy.
Patriarch Theophilos affirmed that authentic dialogue is rooted in the recognition of our common humanity, recalling the words of Scripture that “you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Gen. 3:19), and that all are children of one heavenly Father. He emphasized that true dialogue seeks not to erase differences but to discover within them the seeds of reconciliation and the shared values that reflect the eternal Logos, “for in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn. 1:1).
In his remarks, Patriarch Theophilos also drew attention to the unutterable suffering in Gaza, describing it as a tragic testimony to the absence of dialogue and synergy, and calling for a renewed commitment to peace and reconciliation in the Holy Land.
The Patriarch of Jerusalem called upon leaders of faith to walk steadfastly in this path, declaring it the only way by which nations may overcome hatred and war, and embody the Gospel’s call to become co-workers with the truth (3 Jn. 8).
