Some 300 delegates representing more than 20 countries came together in Sapporo, Japan, on Wednesday for a World Religious Summit for Peace ahead of next week’s Group of Eight Summit.
Participants included 60 religious leaders from Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam and Zoroastrianism, according to Kyodo News.
In an address for the opening plenary on "The G8 Summit: Our Spiritual and Moral Responsibilities", Bishop Wolfgang Huber said that religious leaders were called to set a positive example of peaceful dialogue.
“The ways in which religions try to develop their mutual dialogue are of utmost importance for the ways in which societies can handle tensions and differences in a peaceful manner. As representatives of different religions we are challenged to give a positive example in this respect,” he told leaders.
“I am convinced that we as religious leaders share the vision that this world can be transformed by the power of hope, love, reconciliation and peace into a world of more dignity and security for all.”
Bishop Huber went on to urge leaders at the G8 Summit to take decisions from an African perspective.
"All decisions taken by the G8 gatherings and other international meetings must be challenged and tested from this African point of view, the perspective of the poorest continent of our globe," he said.
"When religious leaders from all over the world speak out on the most pressing issues of our time they should do this in giving a voice to Africa."
