Friends Across Faiths Initiative

Friends Across Faiths Initiative (FAFI) is the world’s first global network of religious leaders of all major faith traditions.

In response to the call by the world’s top religious leaders, established by the declaration of friendship across religions , the declaration is endorsed and supported by teachings of heads of all faiths, including Pope Francis, FAFI is a vision of a global network of religious leaders and faithful. We invite you to join the network.

The network will provide religious leaders, as well as the faithful of their communities, with opportunities to:
Learn: Be inspired by the wisdom, cultures, places, heritage and people of the world’s many faiths
Meet: Faith leaders and faith followers from across the world, in person and on line
Pray: Enabling faith leaders and communities to pray together, and for each other
Serve: Opportunities for service in response to our world’s most pressing humanitarian needs

Following its launch, FAFI will provide ongoing content, inspiration, interfaith resources and opportunities for members to meet and engage.

Goals of FAFI:

To provide opportunities for religious leaders and communities worldwide to cultivate friendship, understanding and knowledge, and to carry these into concrete action for the common good.
To develop and disseminate authentic religious teachings in support of friendship across religions.
To formulate a common voice and platform for religious leaders and the world’s faith followers to learn, share and make friends across religions.
To create inspirational experiences of exploration and learning for the purpose of bridge-building across nations, communities, faiths and hearts.
To cultivate interpersonal relationships through exchanges of knowledge, pilgrimage and prayer.

JOIN

The Elijah Interfaith Institute is thrilled to share the daring vision of a global community of religious leaders and faithful. Based on its reach within high level world religious leadership and following on the call of these leaders to practice friendship across religions, Elijah is honored to announce the launch of FAFI.

Founded in 1996, recognized by UNESCO, Elijah has established itself as a major presence in global interreligious relations, by bringing together premier world religious leaders, noted scholars and theologians of religions and religious communities and organizations. Among its achievements:

Creation of the Elijah Board of World Religious Leaders – highest level, ongoing forum for personal and engaging exchanges, involving figures as Patriarch Bartholomew, The Dalai Lama, Cardinals, Chief Rabbis, top Hindu leaders and more.
Creation of the Elijah think tank, convening scholars for position papers and producing the series Interreligious Reflections (published at Wipf and Stock).
Annual Summer School program, since 1997
Global “Make Friends Across Religions” campaign, with reach of 200 million globally.
“Coronaspection” project, featuring world religious leaders offering guidance and solace during COVID-19.
Solidarity visit of religious leaders to Ukraine, in 2022, shortly after breakout of war.
Climate Repentance initiative, launched around COP-27, in 2022.
Praying Together in Jerusalem, monthly prayer and teaching convening across faiths
Advancing Interreligious Museum of Friendship and Prayer in Assisi, Italy.

The spirit of Elijah is wisdom, inspiration, friendship and hope across religious traditions. Elijah deepens understanding among religions. Elijah’s mission is to foster unity in diversity, creating a harmonious world. Elijah’s message: The world’s great religions radiate wisdom that can heal the world. Deep level spiritual conversation across interreligious lines enriches our inner lives, enhances our prayer and opens our hearts. Discover unity and embrace diversity. We are many and we are one

Visit the Elijah Interfaith Institute website.