The historic town of Mafra once again became a hub of international diplomacy and dialogue during the 5th edition of the Mafra Dialogues, held on 12th and 13th March, 2025 in Portugal. This year's theme, “Safeguarding Heritage, Preserving Peace,” couldn't be more timely, as discussions unfolded against a backdrop of increasing global tensions and threats to cultural and religious heritage.

Organized by the Institute for the Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (IPDAL) in partnership with the International Dialogue Centre - KAICIID and the Municipality of Mafra, the event provided an essential platform to discuss strategic approaches for protecting cultural heritage amidst conflicts and tensions. The choice of theme reflected KAICIID’s continuous dedication to advocating interreligious and intercultural dialogue as fundamental tools for peacebuilding and conflict prevention.

Ambassador António de Almeida Ribeiro, Acting Secretary General of KAICIID, played a pivotal role in the Mafra Dialogues, articulating a vision that resonates deeply with the ongoing global challenges to cultural and religious heritage. During his opening remarks, Amb. Ribeiro underscored the importance of multilateral efforts and the transformative power of partnerships that foster dialogue, peace, and cohesion. “We are particularly proud of our contributions to initiatives like the 'Fez Process', which engages religious and secular leaders in preventing incitement to violence and hate crimes," he noted.

He also emphasized the importance of interreligious dialogue and the need for constructive solutions that could be presented to political leaders around the world. Amb. Ribeiro's remarks were aligned with the sentiments expressed by other leaders at the dialogue, including Khalid Jamal of the Islamic Community of Lisbon, who emphasized the cultural importance of dialogue through religion to avoid conflict. This confluence of views at the Mafra Dialogues highlighted KAICIID's central role in advocating for peace through dialogue, illustrating the organization's commitment to its mandate and strategic vision of fostering understanding across diverse communities.

The dialogues featured panels addressing critical areas such as the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, the geopolitical tensions in Asia, and the war in Ukraine. These discussions highlighted the complex interplay of social, geographical, religious, and cultural factors that influence global peace dynamics.

Highlighting KAICIID’s Participation in Panel #3 at the Mafra Dialogues 2025: Interreligious Dialogue

During the Mafra Dialogues 2025, the focus on interreligious dialogue took centre stage in Panel #3, expertly moderated by Pietro Siena, Programme Officer for the Africa Region Programme at KAICIID. With the previous panels analysing and proposing strategies to resolve armed conflicts, conversations on issues as interreligious dialogue allow to address structural conflicts that limit the possibility to live in pluralist, inclusive and peaceful societies.

The panel featured a diverse group of esteemed speakers, each bringing unique insights and experiences into the discussion.

Vilma Rosaura Palax Tuy, a Fellow of KAICIID and Founder of an organization promoting the rights of indigenous people in Guatemala, shared poignant examples from her work, illustrating how interreligious dialogue can serve as a powerful tool for conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Her experiences underscored KAICIID's commitment to empowering individuals from various religious and cultural backgrounds to foster understanding and cooperation. Speaking form her experience, Vilma also highlighted how dialogue empowers women by allowing their voices the be part of the conversation and their vision to be one of the driving forces for more peaceful societies.

Marwan Gil, Imam and President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Argentina, spoke about the practical aspects of dialogue in religious settings. He highlighted the importance of personal relationships and trust in facilitating meaningful conversations about sensitive topics like theology and religious doctrine.

Elías Szczytnicki, Regional Secretary General for Latin America of Religions for Peace, complemented the discussion by emphasizing the strategic role of religious leaders in advocating for peace and solidarity across different faiths. His perspective added depth to the dialogue, linking it with broader peace initiatives across the region.

Khalid Jamal, representative of the Islamic Community of Portugal, was able to provide the audience with examples of the importance of inclusion and pluralism from a European perspective. Mr. Jamal also presented what in his opinion are some crucial ingredients a proper “inter-religious dialogue recipe”: embracing your own identity without fear when participating in dialogue, speaking with respect and awareness, remembering that the objective of dialogue is one of encounter and not of compromise.

This panel not only highlighted the critical role of interreligious dialogue in addressing global challenges but also demonstrated KAICIID's strategic vision in action. By bringing together voices from different countries and religious communities, the session served as a testament to the power of dialogue in bridging divides and building a more peaceful world. Each speaker contributed to a richer understanding of how dialogue can be leveraged to create lasting change, reinforcing KAICIID’s mandate and commitment to fostering global peace through interfaith and intercultural dialogue.

The Mafra Dialogues also provided an opportunity to acknowledge Portugal’s exceptional role in diplomacy and its unwavering commitment to dialogue and international peacebuilding initiatives. Acting Secretary General Amb. Ribeiro praised Portugal’s leadership in setting a global example of multilateral engagement and intercultural collaboration.

As participants look forward to the outcomes of this year’s dialogues, the discussions at Mafra have once again highlighted the importance of dialogue as a fundamental tool for building sustainable political solutions, preserving peace and addressing structural inequalities. The insights and strategies developed here are expected to resonate well beyond the confines of the conference, inspiring continued efforts in peacebuilding and diplomatic engagements around the world.