Pope to Visit Kazakhstan, Attend Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions
"Accepting the invitation of the civil and ecclesial authorities, Pope Francis will make the announced Apostolic Journey to Kazakhstan from 13-15 September this year, visiting the city of Nur-Sultan on the occasion of the VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions,” he said.
"The Congress is to be held in the Kazakh capital. The theme of this year’s event will be "The Role of Leaders of World and Traditional Faiths in the Socio-Spiritual Development of Humanity after the Pandemic".
Every three years, religious leaders from around the world gather at the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, in Nur-Sultan.
In 2003, former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev called for the first such Congress. He drew inspiration from Pope St. John Paul II's 1986 Day of Prayer for Peace convened in the Italian hill town of Assisi, which brought together various religions and leaders to promote interreligious dialogue, peace and harmony.
The 'Spirit of Assisi' meetings became an annual tradition held each year in a different city in Europe.
Source: heraldmalaysia.com
