The Elijah Interfaith Institute, which hosts the UNESCO Chair in Interfaith Studies has launched the Global House of Friendship and Hope project, and is inviting faith leaders and communities to join the global movement of friendship and hope by signing the “Declaration of Friendship”, a vision, a commitment and a program for religious leaders worldwide to practice friendship, share wisdom and advance a vision of harmony and spiritual growth in their communities, across religious divides.
Nearly 60 of the world’s premier leaders, including Pope Francis, the Dalai Lama, leaders who have taken part in the Global Message of Friendship and members of the Elijah Board of World Religious Leaders will affirm the principles of the “Declaration of Friendship” and offer teachings drawn from their traditions to support this call.
The Global House of Friendship and Hope builds on the existing foundations of convenings of religious leaders in Assisi and on the inspiration of St. Francis as a figure of encounter. It will bring Elijah’s friendship initiative and the history of Assisi as a meeting place to the awareness of all visitors, through immersion in the accumulated history, records and testimonies of friendship of religious leaders and issue an invitation to follow their example.
You can learn more and sign the Declaration of Friendship at https://friendshipandhope.org/community/