Interfaith Peace Must Move From Tolerance to Encounter: Fr. Daniele Mazza

Goa, February 6, 2026: Interfaith peace cannot be sustained by mere tolerance but must be rooted in courageous encounter, said Fr Daniele Mazza PIME, an internationally known scholar of interreligious dialogue, while delivering the keynote address at the Sadbhav Sammelan 2026, an international interfaith conference held at Pilar, Goa.

Speaking at the conference on the theme “Together for Peace: Faith in Action,” Fr Mazza urged religious communities to move beyond comfortable coexistence towards genuine relationships marked by risk, vulnerability and trust. The Sammelan was organised by the Society of Pilar (Sadbhav) along with academic and ecclesial institutions, bringing together religious leaders, scholars, educators, students and youth.

Drawing a sharp distinction between tolerance and encounter, Fr Mazza observed that tolerance often maintains distance and avoids conflict, resulting in indifference rather than peace. Encounter, by contrast, involves personal engagement and the willingness to be changed. “No authentic religion was born out of passive tolerance,” he said, stressing that faith traditions emerge from lived encounters.

Referencing multiple religious traditions, Fr Mazza highlighted encounter as a shared spiritual foundation. He cited the Hindu greeting Namaste as an affirmation of the divine presence in the other, recalled the Christian belief in God’s self-emptying incarnation, and referred to the Qur’anic vision of human diversity created for mutual understanding.

Fr Mazza outlined three inner movements essential for peacebuilding: moving from fear to face, from defensiveness to listening, and from closed to hospitable identities. True faith, he said, does not depend on rigid boundaries but generates courage, openness and dialogue.

Linking faith to daily life, he challenged participants to practise peace both offline and online. He called for shared service across religious boundaries and responsible communication in digital spaces, warning against the contradiction of charitable action combined with harmful speech. He advocated a “charity of speech” grounded in truth, kindness and responsibility.

Concluding his address, Fr Mazza reflected on the meaning of Pontifex—bridge-builder—describing peacebuilders as those willing to bear weight and misunderstanding for the sake of connection. While encounter may not instantly resolve conflicts, he said, it makes hatred increasingly untenable.

The Sadbhav Sammelan 2026 was jointly organised by Sadbhav, Pilar; Fr Agnel College of Commerce and Arts, Pilar; and Nirmala Institute of Education, in collaboration with the Apostolate of Interreligious Dialogue, Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, the Solidarity Forum of Pilar Seminary, the School of Sanskrit, Philosophy and Indic Studies, Goa University, and the Directorate of Higher Education, Government of Goa.

By Br. Malvino Alfonso

Photo credit: Sankalp Naik