On Sunday 17 May 2026, on the occasion of the International Day of Families and the International Day of Living Together in Peace, this conference, dedicated to cooperation and peaceful coexistence, brought together several speakers from different traditions around a common message: peace arises from sincere encounters between human beings. The moderator was Ms. Claire AUNE.
The first speaker, Ms. Tirzi MARTIN, a graduate of the Barrytown Theological Seminary (United States) and inspired by the Jewish tradition, emphasized the importance of forgiveness, sincere apologies, and humility in transforming conflict into reconciliation. Drawing in particular on the thought of the Austrian-Israeli philosopher Martin BUBER, she reminded the audience that all human beings belong to one family and that “the connection between hearts is stronger than our differences.”
Drawing on Surah Al-Anfal (Qur’an 8:61), Mr. Khalil MERROUN, Rector of the Grand Mosque of Évry-Courcouronnes, stressed that peace is born from mutual understanding. According to him, ignorance breeds fear and division. He called on people to move beyond narratives that set individuals against one another and reminded the audience that loving God also means respecting and loving His creatures.
As a cultural interlude, participants enjoyed watching the trailer of the new documentary film “Nous l’Orchestre” (“We the Orchestra”), which offers a beautiful example of cooperation and collective life through the work of the 120 musicians of the Orchestre de Paris under the direction of Klaus MÄKELÄ.
The third speaker, Dr. Laurent LADOUCE, Research Associate for the Universal Peace Federation and Director of the Culture & Paix website, compared society to an orchestra: different individuals can create a common harmony when they learn to cooperate. He highlighted the essential role of families, dialogue, and human relationships in building a culture of peace.
Overall, the conference demonstrated that, despite religious, cultural, and social differences, dialogue, mutual respect, and fraternity remain the indispensable foundations of genuine and lasting peace.