You are all warmly invited to join United Religions Initiative and  Religions for Peace Australia to honour the life of the late Pope Francis at an event to and his commitment to interfaith harmony and integral ecology - the care for our common home, Mother Earth. 

Honouring Pope Francis

On World Environment Day

Thursday 5^th of June 2025

Australia  6pm WA, 7.30pm SA/NT, 8pm AEST, 1pm Jerusalem, 7am Buenos Aires                

Speakers from First Nations, Jewish, Baha’i, Quaker, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Catholic faith traditions-

Zoom Meeting ID: 879 9381 3629

Passcode: 195820 

https://uri-org.zoom.us/j/87993813629?pwd=KQ8vbXDOPXpiqZh1Lt5QTUS7panaJy.1

This is an opportunity to honour the contribution of a humble man whose influence and inspiration to Care for Creation and to Care for the Poor resonated across many nations and many faiths across our world. 

The program and Bio's of Speakers

Professor Desmond Cahill, OAM: Professor Emeritus of Intercultural Studies at RMIT University in Melbourne. Professor Cahill was elected Moderator of the Asian Conference of Religions for Peace on October 22, 2021.

Uncle John Lochowiak: Kaurna Elder, Chair of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Commission. He personally met Pope Francis and held deep discussions with him while attending both recent Plenary Council Meetings in Rome.

Maria E Crespo: From Argentina, Maria met Pope Francis several times in her work with the United Religions Initiative over 20 years. Recently appointed as the URI Director of Growth and Network Vitality.

Rabbi David Rosen KSG, CBE: An Interfaith Peacemaker and Chief Rabbi of Ireland (1979–1985) who relocated permanently to Israel in 1985. He was the Director, American Jewish Committee 2001-2024. Co-President, Religions for Peace International. Met with Pope Benedict and Pope Francis on many occasions.

Theresa Wainas A Papua New Guinean born Baha’i living in Melbourne Australia. The Papua New Guinean Baha’i's released a statement on the passing of Pope Francis.

Alyn Ware: Of Quaker heritage, 2009 Right Livelihood Award recipient, international nuclear disarmament and peace campaigner. Alyn met Pope Francis at a Vatican nuclear disarmament conference.

Philippa Rowland: A Mahayana Buddhist, Philippa Rowland has been President of the Multifaith SA since 2016 and Chair of Religions for Peace Australia since 2023. An agricultural scientist, she worked for 12 years to improve the management of pesticides and environment in farming systems.

Kanti Jinna OAM: Vice President, Hindu Council of Australia and Past President of the Hindu Temple & Cultural Centre of the ACT. Awarded the Order of Australia for his service to the multicultural community of ACT, Kanti is a member of the Royal Commonwealth Society, where he served as President for two years.

Professor Mehmet Ozalp: A prominent Muslim community leader and respected professor of Islamic studies, Mehmet Ozalp co-founded the Affinity Intercultural Foundation to foster intercultural/interfaith harmony in Australia. He is Founder and Director for the Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation at Charles Sturt Uni and ISRA, the Islamic Sciences and Research Academy, editor-in-chief of the Australian Journal of Islamic Studies and author of 48 publications incl 6 books and is leading the creation of a Museum of Islamic Art in Sydney.

Jacqui Remond: Leadership and Service, Integral Ecology at the Australian Catholic University and Co-Founder of the Laudato Si’ Movement. Jacqui personally met Pope Francis four times, served as Director of Catholic Earthcare Australia for the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference for ten years, including spiritual formation, advocacy and research.