The Parliament of the World’s Religions is the world’s premier interfaith convening organization, cultivating harmony among the world’s spiritual traditions and fostering their engagement with guiding institutions to achieve a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world. Its origins are rooted in the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, where the historic first convening of the World Parliament of Religions created a global platform for engagement of religions of the east and west—the beginning of the modern interfaith movement. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, USA, the Parliament is an international nonprofit affiliated with the United Nations Department of Public Information, carrying forward the vision and purposes of that groundbreaking 1893 gathering. The organization is open to people of all religions, spiritual paths, traditions, and ethical convictions, consistent with the values of respectful dialogue, with all participants taking part in their individual capacity rather than with official representation of any religion or institution. The Parliament builds community through global Convenings and ongoing programs of dialogue and collaboration, expands knowledge through conferences, workshops, expert seminars, publications, and educational resources, and advocates for change and action through outreach to constituencies, public statements, media, and contact with policy makers. Guided by the principles of the Global Ethic—a signature document adopted at the 1993 centenary Convening by an Assembly of 250 religious leaders of many faiths that states values shared across faith traditions and calls for their full realization—the Parliament’s mission areas are Peace and Justice, Climate Action, Women’s Dignity, the Next Generation, and the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Parliament’s international Convenings are the world’s largest and most inclusive interfaith gatherings, with an average attendance of 7,000; since 1893, Convenings have been held in Chicago (1993 centenary Parliament), Cape Town (1999), Barcelona (2004), Melbourne (2009), Salt Lake City (2015), Toronto (2018), Virtual Convening (2021), and Chicago (2023).
Why it matters: The Parliament of the World’s Religions matters because it provides the largest and most inclusive global platform for religious and spiritual communities to move beyond narrow self-interest and cultural divisions toward the common good, demonstrating that harmony among the world’s faith traditions is not only possible but essential for addressing the critical issues of our time. By carrying forward the vision of the historic 1893 World Parliament of Religions—the beginning of the modern interfaith movement—the Parliament has created over 130 years of living proof that religious diversity can be woven into the fabric of communal, civil, societal, and global life as a source of richness rather than conflict. Through Convenings that bring 7,000 people of all religions, spiritual paths, and ethical convictions into respectful dialogue and collaboration, the Parliament creates the conditions for alleviating past prejudice, fostering present understanding and trust, and opening future pathways to friendship and cooperation. Guided by the Global Ethic—shared values adopted by 250 religious leaders across many faiths—the Parliament doesn’t merely facilitate dialogue but actively engages the world’s religious and spiritual communities with the critical issues of Peace and Justice, Climate Action, Women’s Dignity, the Next Generation, and Indigenous Peoples’ Rights. In a world where religious division continues to fuel violence and misunderstanding, the Parliament offers tangible evidence that when religious communities engage with each other and with guiding institutions in partnership, they can contribute wisdom and compassion toward a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world where the Earth and all life are cherished, protected, healed, and restored.
