Italy Introduces Nat’l Charter for Interreligious Dialogue
The charter is a historic step that brings together 15 religious groups in the country, according to italiatelegraph. It marks a new phase of partnership and cooperation for peace, social cohesion and the strengthening of civic values.
On June 25, 2026, Rome witnessed the official signing of the “Italian Path for Interreligious Dialogue” charter, the first national charter of its kind, which brought together fifteen religious communities in Italy in a common document. The event followed three years of meetings and discussions that began in 2023 and aimed to create a culture of dialogue, promote mutual respect and expand cooperation between religious institutions at the service of Italian society.
The charter is based on a vision that affirms religious diversity as a positive value for Italian society and considers interfaith dialogue as an essential tool for building trust, promoting coexistence and combating hatred, extremism and discrimination.
The charter also includes a set of principles and practical commitments that transform interfaith dialogue into a sustainable and institutional practice based on cooperation and mutual respect, and seeks to translate the common will into concrete programs and initiatives that serve Italian society.
The Italian Islamic Cultural Center and the Grand Mosque of Rome participated in this national event, and its president, Naim Nasrallah, signed the charter on behalf of the center.
Nader Akkad, Imam of the Grand Mosque of Rome, emphasized that this achievement is the fruit of three years of meetings, dialogue and continuous work. Expressing his pride in participating in the process that led to the signing of the charter, he noted that this step marks the beginning of a new phase of cooperation between followers of different religions and is not the end of the road.
After the signing ceremony, Italian President Sergio Mattarella received representatives of the religious groups that signed the charter at the Quirinale Palace, where he received the official copy of the document. This action demonstrates the Italian government’s official support for interreligious dialogue, which it considers a cornerstone of social cohesion and the promotion of a culture of coexistence.
This charter is the first joint national document that has brought together a large number of religious leaders and institutions in Italy around a single vision for dialogue and cooperation. It establishes a new stage in which interreligious dialogue becomes a permanent institutional framework that helps to address social challenges and consolidate the values of peace, respect and cooperation between all components of Italian society.
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Italy has a population of approximately 59 million, of which an estimated 2.8 million are Muslims, representing about 4.7% of the total population. The Grand Mosque of Rome and the Islamic Cultural Center of Italy are among the most prominent Islamic institutions in the country, playing an important role in dialogue with government and religious institutions and promoting the presence of Muslims in public life.
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