Pope Leo XIV’s special envoy urged Asian bishops July 21 to consider forming an interreligious movement for peace as war, violence, and religious divisions deepen across the world.
Cardinal Oswald Gracias made the appeal during the opening Mass of the 12th Plenary Assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences at Hotel Mulia Jakarta in Indonesia.
The retired Archbishop of Bombay said the gathering was taking place as “conflict, violence, and war have become dominant features of our times,” despite advances in science and human knowledge.
“War has too often become the preferred solution to conflicts,” he said, adding that violence and conflict continued to spread.
The prelate said the Church must respond by bringing divided communities together and helping resolve conflicts.
“Our mission, therefore, is to become bridge builders—to become bridges ourselves. We are called to connect people, bring them closer together, reconcile differences, resolve conflicts, and help build peace in the world,” he said.
Gracias described that work as part of the Church’s mission of evangelization and challenged bishops to examine their responsibility in societies affected by communal and religious violence.
“Have religious differences sometimes become causes of conflict?” he asked, noting that some Church leaders had personally experienced “violence rooted in communal or religious divisions.”
He said the Church should bring religious leaders from different traditions together to promote peace.
“Could an interreligious movement for peace be the calling of our times?” Gracias asked. “Could this become one of the lasting fruits of our Assembly?”
The cardinal also questioned whether the FABC should take a stronger role in addressing conflicts caused by misunderstanding, distorted communication, and damaged relationships.
Gracias said peacebuilding had again been emphasized during a recent consistory called by Pope Leo XIV. He expressed hope that initiatives from the assembly would take root in parishes, dioceses, and countries across Asia.
“Let us proclaim an end to war, just as Pope Saint Paul VI famously did before the United Nations,” he said.
Gracias linked the Church’s peacebuilding mission to synodality, saying the values of family, community, and shared responsibility were already deeply rooted in Asian societies.
“For the Church in Asia, I would say that synodality comes naturally,” he said, adding that Asians are “accustomed to walking together.”
He said the FABC and the Churches of Asia had lived many synodal values before synodality became a central priority of the universal Church.
Those values, he said, should not remain within the Catholic Church but should be shared with other Christian communities, followers of other religions, and political leaders.
“The world needs synodality, needs to learn to work together for the common good,” Gracias said.
He said genuine concern, care, and respect for others could combat corruption and strengthen good governance.
“The Church cannot remain silent. The Church cannot be an island; we need to share our goods with others,” he said.
Gracias said the FABC had “come of age” and could contribute more widely to peace and reconciliation.
“May the Plenary Assembly be for us another new beginning—seeking unity and creating ways to promote peace and reconciliation and teaching all peoples, to walk with people synodally,” he said.
