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Distinguished leaders of faith and civil society,
Esteemed organisers and representatives of the World Council of Churches, Arigatou International, and Religions for Peace,
Beloved participants,
We greet you with heartfelt appreciation and sincere goodwill as we commend this inaugural interfaith dialogue on “Advancing the Responsibility to Protect the Rights and Dignity of the Child,” marking the beginning of a renewed and timely collaboration among your distinguished organisations.
Your initiative highlights a global “polycrisis” — a convergence of challenges that strains children’s spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being. Around the world, children suffer the consequences of conflict, displacement, poverty, exploitation, discrimination, and the accelerating impacts of climate change. Too many experience the loss of autonomy, safety, purity, creativity, and identity — wounds that diminish the innocence and wonder of their being.
As we noted in our 2018 address at the World Council of Churches, the sacredness of childhood is increasingly threatened in today’s world. In our Patriarchal Encyclical for Christmas 2016, we declared 2017 the “Year of the Protection of the Sacredness of Childhood,” calling upon all people of goodwill to recognise and respect the rights and integrity of children. These concerns, sadly, remain painfully relevant.
We cannot ignore the suffering of children caught in war, instability, and poverty. We think especially of the children of Ukraine, many of whom have been displaced, separated from their families, or subjected to the painful erasure of identity. We also bear in mind the children of Gaza, Sudan, the Sahel, and every region where violence deprives the young of peace and the possibility of a hopeful future. Their cries place a moral claim upon us all.
We likewise recognise that the scourge of human trafficking and modern slavery — whether in conflict zones or in hidden forms of exploitation — gravely wounds the freedom and humanity of children and youth, demanding unified action to eradicate all forms of exploitation and restore hope to its victims.
Across our diverse spiritual traditions, we affirm that every child is a precious treasure whose inherent worth calls for our unwavering respect and care. This worth is not an abstraction; it is a moral and practical imperative requiring sustained attention and concerted action. Religious leaders are often the first responders and long-term companions to the youngest generation and their families. Our role is irreplaceable. We are called not only to offer prayers and spiritual teaching, but to transform our shared values into concrete, compassionate, and coordinated efforts that protect children and strengthen the conditions in which they can flourish.
This series offers a vital opportunity to do precisely that. It invites us to exchange experience, elevate best practices, and foster deeper cooperation across cultures, societies, and institutions. It also builds on the commitments expressed at the Sixth Forum of the Global Network of Religions for Children, which called on faith communities to “answer the call of the child” with renewed dedication.
Beloved friends,
Let this gathering strengthen our resolve to ensure that children are protected from violence; that they have access to education, healthy nutrition, safety, and opportunity; and that they grow in communities that honour their individuality, nurture their potential, and safeguard the innocence and wonder that make childhood sacred.
In this spirit, we humbly propose that the protection of childhood — in all its sacredness and fragility — become a central and enduring topic of interfaith dialogue, uniting our religious traditions in a shared moral commitment to defend the young and promote their flourishing.
In joining our prayers with yours, we hope this initiative will bear abundant fruit for the children of our world, who remain our greatest source of hope.
Thank you.
His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
