XIX Formation Course for Interreligious and Ecumenical Dialogue in Istanbul

The annual Formation Course for Interreligious and Ecumenical Dialogue took place from 12th-25th October 2025 at Istanbul, Türkiye. This course is organized by the international Franciscan community of Türkiye as service to the Franciscan family throughout the world engage in dialogue in their context. 

The darkness of hatred and enmity, prejudices and misperceptions, misunderstandings and ignorance among nations, religions and cultures causes the situation of conflicts and violence in the world. This challenges the followers of Saint Francis and people of good will to become instrument of peace and build bridges among religions and cultures.

This year being 800 years of Canticle of Creation of Saint Francis broaden the understanding of dialogue, not just among human but also a fraternal relationship with the whole creation. With reverence to the Sacred Scripture and anthropological understanding of dialogue, the speakers highlighted the significance of dialogue in human life as individual and community. God from the very beginning present Himself as a Trinitarian God who is always in personal relationship with all what He created, whole creation. Thus human and spiritual growth of every person is dependent and interconnected with others. It was further elaborated that we live in a multicultural society. Human beings must learn and appreciate the other with their otherness. Example was given that in various countries, friars with different culture background form together communities which is a testimony of inter-cultural dialogue. 

The world today is concerned with ecological crises which is more destructive than any war. The commemoration of the Canticle of creation of Saint Francis poses a challenge of peaceful co-existence with the whole creation and a responsible stewardship. 

Speaker from Islam and Christianity are beginning to experience the fruits of dialogue as faced by the pluralistic societies everywhere in the world. 

Türkiye gives the great opportunity for ecumenical dialogue where the participants were able to visit Armenian Apostolic, Greek Orthodox, Armenian and Syriac Catholic churches and have encountered with respective patriarchs. The audience with the patriarch Bartholomew and his address to the Franciscans was very inspiring. 

Thus formation for interreligious and ecumenical dialogue has touched the hearts of the participants, renewed their commitment and revitalize their zeal to live a dialogical life and promote better relationship and make concerted efforts with members of other religions and denominations for better environment in their respective places. 

Pascal & Felianus