The Global Convergence Challenge – Summit for Interfaith Unity and Peace Network Seminar for International and Interreligious Actors

25 September 2025 | Helsinki, Finland

RfP Europe – Helsinki, Finland – Religious leaders, interfaith actors, and academics from Finland and abroad gathered for The Global Convergence Challenge – Summit for Interfaith Unity and Peace Network Seminar for International and Interreligious Actors. The seminar focused on tackling polarization, islamophobia, antisemitism, and advancing interfaith dialogue and peace mediation.

Opening remarks were delivered by CORE Forum’s Chair Pavlos Ylinen and Executive Director Katri Kuusikallio. Vice-Chair Laura Huovinen hosted the event and moderated the panel discussion.

The keynote address was delivered by Prof. Genti Kruja, President of Religions for Peace Europe, who highlighted the growing threats of polarization, extremism, and discrimination across Europe, including islamophobia, antisemitism, and anti-Christian sentiment. He stressed that faith communities must be part of the solution, not the problem, by building bridges of trust and cooperation. Prof. Kruja also reaffirmed the moral responsibility of religious leaders to raise their voices against terrorism, to call for the release of all hostages, and to advocate for peace and justice in the face of humanitarian crises in Gaza. Presenting the vision of Shared Sacred Flourishing, he underlined the role of religions in advancing unity, human dignity, ecological responsibility, and sustainable peace under the guiding principle: Different Faiths, Common Action.

Contributions also came from Mercedesz Czimbalmos of the Polin Institute, Angeliki Ziaka of the World Council of Churches, Dr. Maria Leppäkari, Secretary General of Religions for Peace Europe, and Imam Ramil Belyaev of the Finnish Islamic Congregation.

A panel discussion explored ways to counter polarization and religiously motivated racism in Finland, with insights from CORE Forum board members Gurmann Saini and Jyri Komulainen, Johanna Sumiala of the University of Helsinki, and Matti Cantell, a special adviser on radicalisation and violent extremism at the Deaconess Foundation.

The seminar launched a two-day program in Helsinki for international guests, coinciding with the annual board meetings of both Religions for Peace Europe and its institution European National Interreligious Bodies (ENIB), hosted by Religions for Peace Finland – CORE Forum, Uskot-foorumi.