ECCLESIA IN ASIA Mindanao, bishops and ulemas relaunch their collaboration for peace

The body that sees them together has resumed its mission by meeting again after a few years. Christian and Muslim leaders together call for the reinclusion of Sulu in the Bangsamoro autonomous region, to safeguard the achievements of the peace process. The satisfaction of the Silsilah movement: “Important step in this historical moment in which divisions and conflicts arise in the Philippines and in the world.”

Manila () – The Conference of Bishops and Ulama (Islamic religious leaders) of Mindanao, in the south of the Philippines, has resumed its mission of dialogue and peace after a pause of several years. It held its assembly in Davao City from October 7 to 10, 2024, adopting the new name of Mindanao Religious Leaders Conference.

The restart of the experience in a new format and in accordance with the needs and aspirations that guide the mission of dialogue and peace was welcomed by many ecclesiastical leaders and civil society groups, among them the Silsilah Dialogue Movement, active in Mindanao for 40 years and on the front line since the beginning of this experience through Father Sebastiano D’Ambra, executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission for Interreligious Dialogue together with the former Archbishop of Davao, Monsignor Fernando Capalla.

For Silsilah, it was a source of great joy to know that all the leaders of the Conference approved the Prayer of Harmony, which the movement had prepared. We hope and pray that this new beginning will help to reaffirm and promote dialogue and peace among all Christians, Muslims and others, respecting different religious denominations, but all united in God, who is the Creator. “We need to reaffirm universal brotherhood in the spirit of the Document on Human Fraternity signed by Pope Francis with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar University, Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, in Abu Dhabi on February 4, 2019.”

“The signs of war around the world, the growing division between political and cultural groups in Mindanao, the rise of poverty and the reality of the climate emergency,” the movement further writes, “remind us all that the mission that the Episcopal-Ulama Conference is starting now is very important, and Silsilah is by my side, especially to continue the mission of education and solidarity with those in need.”

Members of the Mindanao Religious Leaders Conference reaffirmed their commitment to working for peace and sustainable development, affirming that the values ​​of love, justice, harmony, respect, integrity, unity, reconciliation, spirituality and humanity guide our commitment to peace and sustainable development. They expressed their commitment to revitalize their role in peacebuilding through their organizational platform, the Mindanao Religious Leaders Conference (MiRLeC), “promoting inclusion, governance and peace in the Bangsamoro (the Muslim autonomous region, result of the peace agreements ed.), in Mindanao and throughout the country.

The bishops and ulema recognize that the implementation of the peace agreements, the exclusion of Sulu, environmental injustice, extremism and terrorism pose permanent and emerging challenges to their peacebuilding efforts. More consolidated peace efforts are needed, including cascading dialogues and peace talks, the consolidation of peace groups, dialogue with local and other political leaders, and promoting the role of women, youth and indigenous peoples.

Finally, Christian and Muslim religious leaders made a series of calls to safeguard the achievements of the peace process, calling in particular for the reinclusion of Sulu in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BARMM). Political leaders – in view of the upcoming midterm elections in May 2025 for local and national politics – are asked to campaign soberly, honestly and peacefully in communities and among voters. To pacifist institutions and organizations, the call is to consolidate their efforts to build social cohesion between communities and people of good will.

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