Washington, DC-The Seniors Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Holy Days gave a convincing appeal to compassion as the cornerstone of the plea of religious freedom during his second address in three Days for international religitation 2025 in 2025 SUMMIT on freedom (IRF). Addressing world religious leaders on Wednesday, February 5, Soares stressed that compassion must transcend tolerance and become a daily practice to promote understanding and mutual respect among people of various beliefs.
“Without compassion, we are only foreigners and foreigners to each other. With compassion, we see each other with new eyes, as brothers and sisters, “said Brother Soares during a lunch on the last day of the summit held at Washington Hilton. “Compassion goes beyond tolerance-it calls us to understand and engage with those who are different. It should be the engine of our common efforts for conscience and religious freedom. »»
The IRF summit brought together representatives of more than 90 organizations and more than 30 religious traditions to meet the growing challenges to religious freedom from around the world. According to IRF data, almost 80% of the world’s population lives in countries with significant restrictions on religion. The elder Soares underlined the disturbing increase in religious persecution, urging religious leaders to respond with hope, faith and commitment to action.
In his speech, Brother Soares was inspired by the story of Corrie Ten Boom, a Dutch Christian who endured persecution in a Nazi concentration camp during the Second World War. He shared his example of resilience and faith as a reminder of the force which can emerge from compassion and belief, even in the face of intense suffering.
“I do not want to minimize the serious difficulties that people face, in particular the violence and suffering that many can be durable,” said Soares. “However, history does not have to repeat itself. That we leave our violent forms and our future belongs to us. »»
The Soares highlighted the vital role that religion plays in the promotion of moral individuals, the encouragement of peace and the strengthening of communities. He noted that religious principles, rooted in compassion, are essential to create lasting religious freedom.
“Churches and congregations of all kinds bring together communities,” he said. “They provide a framework for people to serve those they would not serve normally and speak with people with whom they would not speak normally.”
Soares called on governments to support religious freedom, stressing that this strengthens societies as a whole. He developed the struggle for religious freedom as a broader effort to preserve dignity, respect and compassion for all.
“The struggle for religious freedom is much more than protecting the right of worship,” he said. “It is a question of preserving the dignity, the compassion and the respect that all people deserve in this world. Although the challenges of religious freedom are complex, it is inspiring to see so much work working so constantly to find lasting solutions. »»
This year’s IRF summit served as a dialogue and collaboration platform between religious leaders, decision-makers and defenders. On Wednesday, Elder Soare’s remarks followed his speech previous on the day of opening the summit, where he spoke of the importance of peace and then embarked on a discussion with Pastor Baptiste Bob Roberts Jr.
The three-day visit of the apostle in Washington, DC, reflects the Church of Jesus Christ last the commitment of saints to build bridges of understanding and promoting cooperation between religious communities. His compassion message resonates as a call for action so that leaders around the world work towards a more inclusive and harmonious world.
As Brother Soares concluded, he expressed his gratitude for the collective efforts of those present and urged continuous collaboration between confessions and borders. “May we all strive, through confessions and borders, to create a more compassionate world for everyone, everywhere.”
Originally published in The European Times.
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