On March 9, at a fateful turning point for the world order, Christians, Muslims, and Jews will come together in Rome to hold their second meeting. The participation of the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Board, Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, is expected at the ceremony.
By Vatican News
“Peace is not an abstraction; it is a daily exercise in the ability to listen, and it finds its most sincere, even revolutionary expression around a shared meal: this is precisely the message that the second 'Ramadan Feast – Iftar' initiative, bringing together Christians, Muslims, and Jews, intends to convey. The ceremony will take place on Monday, March 9, 2026, at 7:30 PM at the St. Regis Hotel in Rome. The goal is to continue and further strengthen dialogue during a period characterized by deep geopolitical wounds, humanitarian crises, and the storms of war. In a statement released today, Thursday, February 19, the organizers noted that 'the initiative coincides with an extraordinary symbolic overlap: in March 2026, the sacred dates of the three major monotheistic religions converge—Islam's month of Ramadan, Christianity's Feast of the Annunciation, and Judaism's holiday of Purim.'”
Message of Reconciliation
The ceremony, initiated by the Embassies of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Kingdom of Morocco to the Holy See and organized by the "International Media Communication Club" (MICC), aims to build direct bridges between citizens and state and public institutions. “Azerbaijan and Morocco, historically committed to intercultural dialogue, are acting as initiators of this meeting and aim to deliver a message of reconciliation starting from the Mediterranean basin to the entire international space,” the statement says. It is noted that “this is not merely a commemorative ceremony, but a political and social initiative focused on the need for the proper management of coexistence among different communities.”
Laboratory of Active Diplomacy
Leading figures from the world's religious and cultural spheres are expected to participate in the ceremony: the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Board, Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade. Their participation, along with numerous diplomatic missions accredited to Italy and the Holy See, will transform the iftar feast into a laboratory of "active diplomacy." The "feast" initiative aims to restore an ancient value—food as a divine blessing and an instrument of mediation. Ramadan fasting, one of the pillars of the Islamic faith, becomes a paradigm for general reflection here: as an exercise in discipline that brings the believer face to face with their own weaknesses and invites them to reconciliation. The statement also says: “Gathering around a shared feast ceases to be a hierarchical formality and becomes genuine communication and sincere coexistence; it becomes a selfless step aimed at creating positive impacts for global citizenship.”
Italy as a Bridge for the Mediterranean
One of the goals of the "feast" initiative is to reaffirm "Italy's geostrategic mission as a bridge between the shores of the Mediterranean." As stated by the organizers, according to Nizar Ramadan, the Secretary General of MICC, the main target is “to promote the real integration of various communities within the framework of respect for national legislations and to ensure their full rights.” Furthermore, the initiative intends to encourage the exchange of “intellectual gifts”: books, works of art, and humanitarian projects. This exchange is presented as the foundation for lasting peace and sustainable unity.