At the end of a religious summit urging leaders to refrain from war, Pope Francis issued a warning about the “domino effect” of conflict on international relations.

“Peace is urgent, because any military conflict or outbreak of tension and confrontation today can only have an adverse domino effect and gravely threaten the system of international relations,” he stated.

Also Read| Joe Biden’s approval ratings rise sharply ahead of midterm elections: Poll

At the conclusion of the seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, the 85-year-old pope gave the warning. The interfaith summit, which is held every three years, drew about 100 representatives from 50 different nations. The great imam of Al-Azhar, the foremost organisation of Sunni Islam, was among the attendees of the two-day conference in the capital city of Kazakhstan, Nur-Sultan.

The meeting’s final statement urged leaders to “abandon all aggressive and destructive rhetoric that leads to world destabilisation, and to refrain from conflict and bloodshed.” The 35-point declaration, however, made no mention of Ukraine‘s nearly seven-month conflict.

Also Read| 3 reasons why SCO summit 2022 is important

The statement also expressed support for “protecting women’s rights and dignity (and) improving their social status as equal members of family and society.”

The pope personally requested that women be given “greater roles and responsibilities.”

“How many lives would be saved if women were at the centre of decision-making?” Let us work to increase their respect, acknowledgement, and involvement,” he stated.

Also Read| SCO Summit 2022: Which countries are attending the diplomatic event?

The first part of the summit went into greater detail on how faiths contribute to the advancement of ethical standards, such as family values and spiritual diversity, in contemporary society. The second session focused on how religious education and literacy may promote peaceful coexistence.

The topic of political and religious leaders’ roles in preventing extremism, radicalization, and terrorism was also covered. The final panel of the day will discussed how women are perceived in religious settings, how they support traditional family values, and how society is evolving. The participants also examined the role of faiths in supporting the social standing of women and ensuring gender equality.