The King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID) formally opened on 26 November 2012 in Vienna, Austria. KAICIID was founded to enable  and encourage dialogue amongst followers of different religions and cultures around the world and its Dialogue Centre will serve as a hub to facilitate interreligious and intercultural dialogue and understanding, to enhance cooperation, respect for diversity, justice and peace.

(Vienna, 27 November 2012) UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon; the Foreign Ministers of the three Founding States, His Royal Highness Saud Bin Faisal Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.E. Michael Spindelegger of the Republic of Austria and H.E. José Manuel García-Margallo y Marfil of the Kingdom of Spain; the President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue in the Roman Curia, His Eminence Cardinal Jean-Louis Pierre Tauran; the President of the Islamic League, Abdullah Al Turki; Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew; the Archbishop of Madrid, Antonio Maria Rouco Varela; and the Chief Rabbi of Moscow and President of the Conference of European Rabbis, Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt carried out the ceremonial opening of the Centre yesterday, witnessed by KAICIID’s Board of Directors, Secretary General Faisal Bin Muaammar and Deputy Secretary General Claudia Bandion-Ortner.

The Secretary General stated, “This important event is a major milestone in a journey of dialogue,” and continued, “Today is the conclusion of the journey to establish the KAICIID Centre, but it is the beginning of a longer journey along the path of peace”.

In his speech, UN Secretary General Ban said, “I welcome the Centre’s commitment to open the door to all world religions and I share with you the vision of religions as enabler of respect and reconciliation.”

In addition to the ceremonial opening of the Centre, events included a Best Practices Symposium and a gala dinner at the Hofburg Palace.

The Best Practices Symposium provided a platform for sharing exemplary practices, projects, initiatives and activities, presented by leading organisations working in the field of interreligious and intercultural dialogue.

At the ceremony, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew delivered the keynote address to an audience of almost 800 guests, including ambassadors, government representatives, religious leaders, academics and scholars. Many non-governmental organisations, cultural institutions and other interested parties were also represented. Two personal video messages of congratulations and support were screened, one from King Juan Carlos I of Spain and the other from Austrian President Heinz Fischer. With their signatures to the KAICIID Affirmation, the Board of Directors sealed their personal commitment to KAICIID’s Mission. The evening was characterised by a cordial coming together of followers of different religions and cultures, in a shared spirit of hope and resolve. Deep conversations with an exchange of experiences in interreligious and intercultural matters were enjoyed by the guests. Evening attendees were inspired by the message of KAICIID and by the spirit of the event, which concluded with a commitment to the belief in new horizons for dialogue.

 

KAICIID Dialogue Centre

Vision:

Religion as enabler of respect and reconciliation.

 

Mission:

Acting as a hub, facilitating interreligious and intercultural dialogue and understanding, to enhance cooperation, respect for diversity, justice and peace.

 

Role:

The Centre will act as a hub among followers of different religions and cultures, empowering others already working in the field of dialogue and promoting harmony and cooperation.

 

Strategic Objectives:

• Generate, develop and disseminate knowledge in the area of Interreligious and Intercultural dialogue;
• Cultivation and promotion of respect for differences through dialogue;
• Create bridges, address conflict and promote collaboration amongst diverse groups.
  
   

Team:

The Board of Directors comprises high-level representatives of five major world religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism). An Advisory Forum of up to 100 members of other religions, cultural institutions and international organisations will provide a further resource of interreligious and intercultural perspective.

The KAICIID Secretariat is headed by Secretary-General, H.E. Faisal Bin Abdulrahman Bin Muaammar and Deputy Secretary-General Mrs. Claudia Bandion-Ortner.

After its refurbishment, KAICIID is located at the Palais Sturany at the Schottenring in Vienna’s 1st district and will act as a place for dialogue among followers of different religions and cultures, a place for conferences, for information, meetings and discussion.

 

Programmes:

Looking ahead, the Centre has prepared an ambitious programme of activities and events that will see it progress its Mission, such as:

• Multi-religious Collaboration for the Survival and Wellbeing of Children: a major capacity-building initiative aimed at empowering religious leaders, congregations, faith-based institutions and individuals across diverse faith traditions to promote the survival and wellbeing of children in several priority countries;
• The Image of the Other: a series of Conferences with themes including Education, Media and the Internet, aimed at exploring ways to improve perceptions of the Other;
• KAICIID Fellows Programme: the establishment of a KAICIID Fellowship programme for future teachers of religion and future religious leaders with a deep commitment to interreligious or intercultural dialogue.