Archbishop John Barwa Urges Peace and Respect for Human Dignity at Interfaith Jubilee in Cuttack

Cuttack, Feb. 5, 2026: Archbishop John Barwa of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar called for renewed commitment to peace, unity and the dignity of every human person while addressing the Amruta Mahotsav (Platinum Jubilee) celebrations of The Divine Life Society, Cuttack Branch. The interfaith programme was held from January 30 to February 2 at the Indore Stadium.

The jubilee celebrations brought together spiritual leaders and representatives of Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Jain, Sikh and Christian traditions, along with scholars and public figures, reflecting India’s rich religious diversity. Centred on the theme “A Call to Universal Fraternity: A Moral Vision for Our Time,” the gathering highlighted a shared concern for restoring compassion, fraternity and moral responsibility in an increasingly divided world.

Presenting a Christian perspective, Archbishop Barwa emphasised that faith begins with the recognition of the inherent dignity of every human person. He noted that all people, regardless of religion, nationality or social identity, share a common origin and destiny as children of one loving God.

Drawing from Sacred Scripture, the Archbishop recalled the biblical teaching that every person is created in the image and likeness of God, a belief that underpins Christian social teaching and the Church’s commitment to justice, peace and reconciliation. Quoting the Beatitudes, he observed that peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of justice, love and mutual respect, and urged people of all faiths to become bridge-builders in times marked by division and mistrust.

Archbishop Barwa also stressed that religious traditions must extend beyond ritual practice to actively shape the moral conscience of society. When faith communities stand together in defence of truth, compassion and human dignity, he said, they can become a powerful force for healing and transformation.

Participants described the interfaith gathering as spiritually enriching, noting that the presence of leaders from diverse religious traditions offered a visible sign of unity in diversity. In his concluding remarks, Archbishop Barwa expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share the Christian vision of universal fraternity and reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to working with all people of goodwill to promote peace and harmony.

By Fr. Santhosh Digal