At a time when, tragically, those who promote violence use religious differences to add bitterness to conflict, interfaith harmony is vital in societies where people of different faiths and beliefs live alongside each other.

It also urgent that people of faith work together for peace, challenge prejudice and injustice, seek to ensure that all people have the basic necessities for a fulfilling life, and do all they can to protect the environment and reduce the threat of global warming.

In the words of the prayer of Sir Francis Younghusband, who founded the World Congress of Faiths and which members say at every meeting, ‘May the spirit of fellowship abound among all people.

May our journeying together bring hope to a troubled world.

Rev Dr Marcus Braybrooke,
Former President of the World Congress of Faiths. Co-Founder of the Faith and Belief Forum