When Faith Meets Diplomacy: The Church at the Heart of Global Dialogue”

From 23-24 April 2026, the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue took part in the second edition of the International Colloquium on Contemporary Religious Diplomacy (CIDIR 2026), held at Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD) in Dakar, Senegal. The landmark gathering brought together scholars, diplomats, and Muslim and Christian religious leaders around a bold theme: “Universities, Spiritual Values, and Religious Diplomacy: Toward an Ethical Refoundation of Public Policy.”

Fr. Paulin Batairwa Kubuya, S.X., Under-Secretary of the Dicastery, delivered a keynote address exploring the Dicastery’s pivotal role in fostering diplomacy and interreligious dialogue, bridging academic research, religious commitment, and international mediation. Fr. Bonaventura Benjamin Mwenda, M.Afr., an Official of the Dicastery, participated in a roundtable discussion with members of the Diplomatic Corps and leaders from Christian, Muslim, and African traditional religious communities on establishing a dedicated university chair in diplomacy and interreligious dialogue for peace and fraternity.

Bringing together academics, diplomats, religious leaders, and custodians of African traditions, CIDIR 2026 has firmly established itself as a promising regional interreligious platform for promoting diplomacy and interreligious dialogue. Co-organized by UCAD’s Institute for Public Policy, the Embassy of Côte d’Ivoire in Senegal, the NGO Fawzi Wandiaty, and the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, the colloquium reflects the Catholic Church’s growing engagement in regional and international discussions on the role of religions in fostering a more ethical and fraternal public sphere