MANILA, Philippines — As armed conflicts, humanitarian crises, social divisions, and growing religious intolerance continue to affect communities around the world, faith leaders from different religious traditions gathered virtually for the inaugural Global Prayer Assembly for Peace (GPAP) on July 9, reaffirming their shared commitment to peace through dialogue, mutual respect, and cooperation.
The GPAP was launched through a joint initiative of religious leaders and peace advocates who recognized the need for a regular interfaith platform where people of different faiths could pray together, engage in dialogue, and cooperate in responding to growing global conflicts. While participants represented diverse faith traditions, they came together with one common conviction: lasting peace begins when people choose dialogue over division and cooperation over conflict.
John Rommel Garces, Chief Branch Manager of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) Philippines, said the organization is honored to support the initiative, which encourages people of faith to become active instruments of reconciliation and peace within their respective communities.
The program featured prayers for peace led by representatives from various faith traditions, namely Ustadh Bayan Radia (Islam), Archbishop Emeritus Rev. Antonio J. Ledesma (Catholic), Rev. Acharya Prem Shankaranand Tirth (Hinduism), and Instructor Harold Recio (non-denominational Christianity).
Despite differences in religious traditions, each prayer echoed a common aspiration for peace, justice, compassion, and mutual respect, and for “wars and conflicts between nations to come to an end.”
Archbishop Ledesma offers prayer for due process for Lee Man-hee
During the event, Archbishop Emeritus Antonio J. Ledesma of Cagayan de Oro also prayed for 95-year-old Lee Man-hee, Chairman of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) and the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, who is currently detained in South Korea while awaiting trial.
The prayer reflected Ledesma’s recent appeal for due process and humanitarian consideration for Lee, drawing from their years of collaboration in advancing interfaith dialogue and peacebuilding efforts in Mindanao. The Archbishop first met Lee in 2013 through HWPL’s peace initiatives and later worked alongside him in bringing together Catholic, Muslim, and other religious leaders to promote reconciliation in conflict-affected communities including efforts that contributed to interfaith reconciliation in conflict-affected Mindanao.
In his prayer, Ledesma asked that justice be administered with fairness, compassion, respect for human rights, and due process. Organizers emphasized that prayer is not an end in itself, but a starting point for continued dialogue, reconciliation, and practical cooperation among religious communities in addressing conflict and building lasting peace.
Weekly prayer gathering launched
The participants also agreed to continue the initiative through a Weekly Interfaith Prayer Gathering every Thursday, providing an ongoing platform for religious leaders and communities to unite regularly in prayer, strengthen mutual understanding, and deepen cooperation for peace.
Participants were likewise invited to join the Religious Peace Academy (RPA), an initiative that promotes interfaith dialogue through the comparative study of scriptures. Interested individuals or organizations may register through this link: https://forms.gle/CELmK97ooJPKbA5E7.
The GPAP reflects the shared commitment of religious leaders and peace advocates to strengthen interfaith cooperation through dialogue, mutual understanding, and prayer. As an international peace NGO, HWPL continues to support interfaith dialogue through initiatives such as the Religious Peace Academy (RPA), while working with religious leaders to build sustainable peace based on mutual understanding and cooperation. (UnliNews Online)
