D. Manuel Palma, president-dean of the San Isidoro Faculty of Theology of Seville, had the honor of speaking yesterday afternoon at the Real Alcazar of Seville at the international conference entitled “The Role of Religious Leaders in the Expansion of Peace and Tolerance”.
The meeting, organized by the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace (GCTP), brought together numerous religious authorities and figures, academics, policy makers and peace advocates from around the world to address and promote the key and essential role played by religious leaders in promoting peace and tolerance among today’s diverse and overly polarized societies.
Among those in attendance were Msgr.
Bernardito Cleopas Auza, Nuncio of His Holiness Pope Francis in Spain.
The main objectives of the conference were to strengthen inter-religious dialogue; promote mutual understanding and respect among different religious communities; highlight positive examples where religious leaders have effectively promoted peace and tolerance; develop action plans for religious leaders to implement in their communities to combat intolerance and violence; and build and strengthen global networks of religious leaders committed to these values.
In his speech, Mr. Manuel Palma underscored the importance of religious devotion as a means to promote dialogue and tolerant coexistence in a diverse world.
“Religious devotion is not a mere superficial recognition of the beliefs of others, but a deep respect and bold understanding of the intrinsic value of diverse spiritual traditions,” he said.
He quoted Pope Francis in his encyclical Fratelli Tutti to highlight how love and charity are essential to seeing others as valuable and worthy, beyond appearances.
The dean emphasized that tolerance, born of this religious sensitivity, must go beyond peaceful coexistence, becoming an authentic social friendship.
“We must see in the other not only someone who deserves our respect, but a friend and companion on the road,” he said.
He also highlighted historical examples, such as the visit of St. Francis of Assisi to Sultan Malik al-Kamil, to illustrate how devotion and faith can overcome the barriers of conflict and division.
Finally, the dean called on religious communities to unite in promoting world peace.
“Peace is not only the absence of war, but the fullness of life that God wants for all his children”, ” When religious communities speak out together for peace, they send a powerful message to the whole of society, showing that religious diversity is not an obstacle, but a richness that contributes to the construction of a more just and peaceful world” At the close of his speech, he invited those present to be witnesses of universal love and work tirelessly for a world where everyone, without exception, can live in dignity and peace. 
