Sponsored by the World Council of Churches (WCC), the "Critical Moment in Inter-religious Dialogue" conference opened in Geneva on 7th June morning with over 120 Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu as well as other religious leaders, academics, human rights activists and humanitarian workers attending.

The opening remarks were delivered by the WCC General Secretary Rev Samuel Kobia and the WCC Central Committee Moderator Catholicos Aram I. They have echoed the call to leaders of all religions for a "credible and relevant inter-religious dialogue" as well as "common actions based on common moral values".

Catholicos Aram I has emphasised that the conference is "critical". In a report in February 2005, he said, "The world is sick morally, politically and ecologically. Bringing healing to the broken world is the greatest challenge of our times facing all religions."

Therefore, inter-religious dialogue aimed at enhancing greater understanding of each others' theological teachings and fostering closer relations and broader collaboration must remain a major concern for all religions.

Catholics Aram I said that in the increasingly globalised world, religion has become a major player on the global scene. Religions are not only to seek for dialogue, but they are called to work together, to move towards common action to influence the world.

According to the Catholics Aram I, this common action must be grounded in common values. "Values, not interests, must be the guiding principles of inter-religious collaboration", Aram I said.

Catholics Aram I believed that religion is the moral force of the world. Therefore, religions should provide moral leadership in a world where moral values are in decay. While the culture of violence has become a dominant reality, religions are to be "an instrument of peace-building".

The Millennium Development Goals set by the United Nations aimed at the eradication of violence, reduction of diseases, combating injustice, uprooting poverty and promoting education. Catholics Aram I said, "While those committed to these goals have not yet taken any concrete steps forward... religions cannot remain silent and indifferent vis-a-vis this alarming situation."

The conference will run from 7th-9th June. It is expected to lead the inter-religious dialogue into a new phase, according to a press release last week. WCC has 35 years of experience in inter-religious dialogue.

WCC General Secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia said, "Dialogue between faiths remains a high priority for the WCC, but now there is a need to move into a new phase, into a dialogue of life, society and ethics which all people struggle with."

The conference programme will include a series of presentations and dialogue sessions on the themes of "thinking together", "assessing the present", and "imagining the future". A vision statement will set out a framework for future dialogue efforts.