Forum Links Faith and Family to Latin American Development
South and Central America – UPF-Latin America and the Caribbean and the International Association for Peace and Development (IAPD) held an online forum via Zoom on September 11, 2026, titled "From Barriers to Bridges: Faith, Freedom and Development in Latin America – Family and Future," featuring distinguished men and women of deep spirituality, experience and leadership from various faith traditions across the region.
The event was moderated by Mr. Mario Salinas, regional secretary general of UPF. In his opening remarks, he highlighted the significance of an interfaith association incorporating the word "development" into its name. This is precisely what sets this association apart: the understanding that dialogue, tolerance and peace naturally foster development for the benefit of communities, societies and nations.
Mr. Salinas recalled the proposal by UPF co-founder, the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, that the United Nations should evolve into a bicameral body, with a first chamber – the current General Assembly – comprising political representatives from each nation, and a second chamber, made up of representatives from the world's diverse religious cultures, whose wisdom would ensure decisions that are more humane and less driven by politics.
Mr. Eliecer Araya, regional UPF president, then presented his welcoming remarks. “We find ourselves today at a time when faith faces great challenges in our region: social fragmentation, a loss of values, violence, and a lack of hope among the new generation,” he said. “In the face of these realities, the role of religious leaders and faith-based organizations is essential: to promote dialogue, cooperation and mutual effort in building an authentic culture of peace ... This is not a matter concerning only a specific group, but all of humanity, which is called to flourish in filial piety, justice, fraternity and hope. For the truth is that this – world peace – is everyone’s dream and the reason we have gathered here today.”
The event was graced by the presence of Ms. Tomiko Duggan, global coordinator of IAPD, who stated that IAPD supports, encourages and fosters interfaith dialogue with the aim of serving society and to build a world of peace. She reminded everyone of the preamble to UNESCO’s Constitution, which states: “Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed.” She added, “UPF recognizes the importance of incorporating the very powerful and effective voices of the world’s religious leaders when seeking solutions to peace. That is people-to-people diplomacy, also known as track two diplomacy, which often proves effective in achieving the goals and objectives of conflict resolution.”
The first guest panelist was the dean of the diplomatic corps in Peru and UPF ambassador for peace, Dr. Juan Álvarez Vita. “Religious sentiment is innate to human beings and obviously predates the state,” he said. He added that religious intolerance and discrimination have not disappeared; they persist worldwide. Dr. Vita pointed out that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. He lauded UPF’s focus on interfaith dialogue, adding that participants in such dialogue “must possess extensive knowledge not only of their own religion but also of the beliefs held by those with whom they are engaging in dialogue.”
The next speaker was Monsignor Jimmy Bula Giammaría, from the Vetero-Catholic Church (Old Catholic Church) and an ambassador for peace in Colombia. He pointed out that healthy, sustainable development “does not begin in grand government offices or stock exchanges; it begins at the family dinner table. The family is the primary setting for human development, the first school of ethics, and society's main shield.” He added, “The religious sector plays an irreplaceable role. Faith communities possess something many governments lack: a permanent presence, trust, and deep social reach ... The religious sector does not merely sustain faith; it operates as a primary social safety net."
The Anglican Church of Ecuador was represented by Archbishop Luis Rodrigo Moreno, who is also an ambassador for peace. Interfaith dialogue, he said, offers “conceptual insights into the spiritual significance of faith and freedom. This contribution should serve not only the holistic well-being of Latin American families and the region as a whole but also the creation of a promising future for all humanity through the promotion of universal values.”
The final panelist was Prof. Raúl Rey Benegas, in his capacity as president of the UPF chapter in Uruguay, who has extensive experience in interfaith work. He referred to internal barriers – fears that label people as the “other” – and the need to build bridges so that differences do not become walls. “Religions possess an immense capacity to build bridges, for they all – drawing from their own traditions – speak of values that transcend our differences: love, compassion, justice, human dignity, service and responsibility toward our neighbor.”
The event concluded with attendees highly motivated to reach out to the religious leaders in their communities and to promote innovative processes for undertaking joint actions, serving as a fine example and model of interfaith unity.
