“On this 60th anniversary, the message that Nostra Aetate proclaims once again for our era echoes more powerfully than ever, inviting every person to engage in a deeper and more authentic dialogue with followers of other faiths, rediscovering the spiritual, ethical and socio-cultural values present therein, in order to build together a more harmonious world where peace prevails.” Margaret Karram, president of the Focolare Movement, outlines the prophetic relevance of the “Nostra Aetate” declaration of the Second Vatican Council, marking 60 years since its promulgation on 28 October 1965. The Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue and the Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews organized a celebration in the Paul VI Hall on Tuesday, October 28, 2025 to mark the anniversary, in the presence of Pope Leo. SIR asked Margaret Karram for an overview of the declaration and her thoughts on current prospects for peace through dialogue. Karram is the president of a movement founded by Chiara Lubich, whose charism is centred on the unity of the human family. Spread throughout the world, its members include Christians of different denominations, as well as followers of other major religions.
Which, in your view, are the most important fruits that Nostra Aetate has produced over the past 60 years? What impact has it had on the Church, society and on relations between religious communities?
As Pope Benedict XVI repeatedly stated, the value and meaning of this document have only come to be fully understood and appreciated over time. Despite being a brief, four-page conciliar declaration, few Catholic Christians are familiar with its content or the fundamental turning point that it marked in the relations between the Catholic Church and other religions. In light of this apparent contradiction, it can be said that Nostra Aetate has contributed to rekindling friendship and collaboration with the Jewish world, for which it was intended, in line with John XXIII’s vision following his meeting with the French Jewish historian Jules Isaac. Furthermore, it opened the hearts of many Catholics to followers of other faiths, helping the Catholic Church to definitively relinquish the millennia-old dogma which states that: “Outside the Church there is no salvation”. As far as the Movements are concerned, we can safely say that some of the new charisms that emerged during the Council era, along with many others within the Church, contributed to its implementation. In this context, the idea of the unity of the human family is at the heart of Nostra Aetate, both anthropologically and theologically.
In recent years, relations between peoples have become fractured, leading to conflict and division in various parts of the world. Unfortunately, wars have also cast shadows of mistrust and fear between religions. What causes war in people’s hearts, and how can these shadows be vanquished?
Nostra Aetate was promulgated during the Cold War, at a time when the world was witnessing the beginning of the escalation of the Vietnam conflict, yet still seemed committed to rejecting violence. Sadly, wars have continued to rage dramatically since the publication of this document, culminating in the conflicts we are witnessing today, which have claimed the lives of millions of men and women. Furthermore, religions are often exploited to justify or promote violence. War is always spawned by a lack of trust, respect, and compassion; by a refusal to empathise with others, who are just like us. To overcome this folly, each of us and each of our communities (social, political and religious) should follow the Golden Rule, a universal ethical principle:
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. We could extend this notion further and say: Treat the nation, religion, culture, etc. of others as you would like them to treat yours.
The Council document Nostra Aetate urges us: “…to work sincerely for mutual understanding and to preserve as well as to promote together for the benefit of all mankind social justice and moral welfare, as well as peace and freedom.”
Now more than ever, suffering humanity is crying out for fraternity. Drawing on the experience of the Focolare Movement, how can new bonds of fraternity be established in a world that seems to have lost sight of peace?
Chiara Lubich’s charism teaches us to experience peace in our daily lives, first by making it a reality in our hearts and then by sharing it with others.
We must build peace-based relations wherever we are.
This can be achieved by anyone: a mother, a young student a shopkeeper… It all begins with small gestures and eventually spreads to influence people at various social levels, including in the worlds of politics and international diplomacy. These are long and difficult processes that require significant commitment, training of the younger generations and peace education. We have various projects, one of which is ‘Living Peace’, involving thousands of schools worldwide in promoting initiatives for peace and fraternity among followers of different faiths. Experiences like this, which promote a culture of solidarity and mutual respect, strengthen our faith and our belief that we must never lose hope!
In light of the message of Nostra Aetate, what role should religious leaders and followers of different faiths play in creating a reconciled and peaceful world?
They have a key role to play. John Paul II had this intuition when he convened the Day of Prayer for Peace in Assisi with representatives of all world religions in 1986. If religious leaders believe in peace, pray for peace and live for peace, this will inspire their followers to do the same. John Paul II’s foresight was exemplary. Every believer, regardless of their religious affiliation, bears this responsibility.
