Representatives of diverse religious traditions gather in Madrid for Interfaith Encounter for Peace in the Spirit of Assisi

Representatives of various religious traditions gathered at San Francisco el Grande in Madrid on Sunday, October 25, 2026, for the Interfaith Encounter for Peace in the Spirit of Assisi. The meeting brought together leaders to pray for peace and to seek the recovery of social bonds to overcome fear and rejection of others.

The gathering included auxiliary bishop of Madrid Vicente Martín Muñoz, Father Ciprian of the Orthodox Church, and Antonio Merino, secretary of the Violeta Friedman Foundation representing the Jewish community. Also present were Pastor Ramiro Arroyo of the Community Church of Madrid, Temirkhon Naziri, executive director of the Arco Forum association representing the Muslim community.

The event follows the tradition established by Saint John Paul II during the first Assisi meeting in 1986. Pope Leo XIV was invited to attend the closing of the meeting in Assisi, but doctors advised against his travel following a recent surgery.