Christian World | Pope Leo told a delegation of two groups serving Eastern Christians that dialogue between faith and reason is the indispensable path to justice and reconciliation

ACW | November 4, 2026 — Pope Leo XIV told a delegation from two organizations serving Eastern Christians on Wednesday that dialogue between faith and reason "is the indispensable path to justice and reconciliation," Vatican News reported.

The delegation came from L'Œuvre d'Orient and the Institut Chrétiens d'Orient, which are holding a two-day conference titled "Peace Put to the Test by the World: Eastern Christians, Conflicts, and Peacebuilding," Vatican News said.

"Dialogue between faith and reason, and between culture and history, is the indispensable path to justice and reconciliation," the pope said. He praised the groups for bringing several academic disciplines to bear on today's conflicts, with the aim of a "just and lasting peace," particularly in the Middle East, according to Vatican News.

Recalling the Nov. 2 commemoration of All Souls, Leo prayed for the many victims of armed conflict, Vatican News said. He welcomed the conference's plan to set up an international network of peace researchers.

"You become servants of a peace that is unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering," he told the delegation. Vatican News did not name the delegation's leaders or say where the meeting took place.

Background: ACW earlier reported that an Austrian Catholic charity said Syria's Christians fear for their future.

Why it matters: The conference examines the role of Eastern Christians in peacebuilding amid conflict, and the pope called dialogue the "indispensable path" to justice and reconciliation, Vatican News reported.

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Source: Vatican News — Pope: Eastern Christians foster dialogue in search of just peace

Photo: Vatican Media