Global Faith Leaders Gather at the Colosseum to Affirm: “Peace Never Fails”

Rome, October 30, 2025 — In an interreligious gathering held at the Colosseum on Tuesday, Pope Leo XIV and leaders of major world religions came together to issue a resounding appeal for peace, affirming that “war is a failure of politics and of humanity.”

The event, organized by the Community of Sant’Egidio, brought together hundreds of participants — faith leaders, diplomats, and laypeople — in a profound act of prayer and dialogue under the banner, “Peace Never Fails: Faiths and Peoples United for Humanity.”

Standing at one of history’s most symbolic sites of suffering and witness, the Colosseum, Pope Leo XIV reminded the world that “only peace is holy — war is never holy.” He urged all believers to reject ideologies of violence and division, calling instead for a renewed culture of encounter and reconciliation.

“When people forget the humanity of their neighbor,” the Pope said, “they make room for the logic of weapons instead of the language of compassion.”

Leaders representing Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and other world religions joined the Pope in signing a joint Appeal for Peace, denouncing the manipulation of religion to justify violence and reaffirming the moral duty of believers to act as peacemakers.

Each faith representative offered a reflection and prayer for nations afflicted by war — from Ukraine and the Middle East to Africa and Asia — invoking God’s mercy and guidance for leaders to choose dialogue over destruction.

Participants committed themselves to strengthening cooperation across religious and humanitarian lines to defend human dignity, assist refugees, and counter the global tide of polarization and hatred.

Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, one of the event’s coordinators, noted that the Colosseum gathering “revives the prophetic spirit of the first interreligious prayer for peace convened by Saint John Paul II in Assisi in 1986.”

He added, “Here in Rome, we reaffirm that fraternity among peoples is not a dream, but a task entrusted to us by God.”

The atmosphere was marked by reverence as lights illuminated the ancient amphitheatre — once a place of persecution — transforming it into a beacon of unity. Prayers in multiple languages echoed through the historic site, symbolizing the universal longing for peace that transcends borders and beliefs.

As the ceremony concluded, Pope Leo offered his final blessing, urging all people of goodwill to “build bridges, not walls; heal wounds, not inflict them.”

The Rome Peace Appeal 2025, signed that evening, will be delivered to world leaders and international organizations as a renewed call for dialogue, justice, and the defense of human life.

Source and Image Credits : Vatican News