Religious leaders representing nine faith traditions signed a shared pledge for peace at Westminster Cathedral Hall on Saturday 17 October, committing themselves to dialogue, justice and the equal dignity of every person. The gathering brought Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, head of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, together with representatives of Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Baháʼí, Zoroastrian, Jain, Jewish, Buddhist and Sikh communities.
A pledge shaped by the Assisi tradition
The event, titled Religions as builders of Peace in the Spirit of Assisi, marked 40 years since the 1986 Assisi gathering. Cardinal Vincent Nichols gave a 20-minute address before the gathering heard nine prayers from different faith traditions. The participants then observed a shared silence and signed the pledge.
The pledge’s central premise is that peacebuilding begins with recognition of each person’s dignity and neighbourly responsibility. The signatories say religious difference should not become a barrier to understanding or a pretext for hostility.
Commitments extend beyond prayer
The document rejects violence, terrorism and hatred as incompatible with religion, and condemns attempts to use God or faith to justify violence or war. It also commits the signatories to addressing conditions that foster hatred, extremism and conflict. Those statements are commitments made by the signatories; they do not amount to a political agreement or a mechanism for enforcing policy.
Other parts of the pledge focus on practical civic responsibilities. The leaders promise to encourage education in mutual respect, defend equal dignity and fundamental rights, and pursue dialogue with humility and patience. They also acknowledge that lasting peace requires justice, including recognition of past and present failures and work towards reconciliation.
The text pledges solidarity with people who are poor, vulnerable, displaced or affected by war, persecution, discrimination or neglect. It calls for unheard voices to be amplified and for political, civic and religious leaders to uphold the rule of law and fundamental freedoms. It also links peace with stewardship of the natural world, noting that environmental damage and competition over resources can weigh most heavily on poorer communities and contribute to conflict.
Representatives from nine traditions
The named signatories include Cardinal Koovakad and Radhika Kadaba of the Hindu Council of Wales; Muslim scholar Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra; Christian representative Dr James Roberts; Baháʼí public-affairs director Padideh Sabeti; Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe president Malcolm Deboo; Jain representative Dr Mehool Sanghrajka; Jewish representative Brenda Dinsdale; Buddhist Society president Dr Desmond Biddulph; and Sikh spiritual leader Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia.
The range of traditions gives the pledge its interfaith character, while the text sets out common civic principles rather than attempting to erase theological differences. Its call is for communities to meet, listen and work together where their responsibilities overlap.
Saturday event distinct from Sunday gathering
The pledge was signed on 17 October. A separate event, titled In Prayer for Peace, took place at Westminster Cathedral Hall on Sunday 18 October and brought together ecumenical and Jewish representatives. The two gatherings formed part of Koovakad’s London visit but had different programmes and participants; the Sunday event was not the pledge-signing described here.
For London’s faith communities, the pledge offers a public statement of shared intent at a time when religious identity can be invoked in disputes and conflict. Its significance will depend on whether the signatories and their communities carry those commitments into sustained dialogue, practical cooperation and support for people facing harm.
