New Delhi, April 14, 2026: In the backdrop of several ongoing conflicts and wars across the world, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI), through its Office for Dialogue and Desk for Ecumenism (OD&DE), convened a Multifaith Prayer Meeting for Global Peace, under the banner of the interreligious forum called "Shanthi Sabha – A Multifaith Assembly for Peace."

The event was held at the CBCI Centre, New Delhi, on April 14, 2026, from 5:30 pm to 6:45 pm at the CBCI Conference Hall. It brought together about 35 prominent religious leaders from various faith traditions who gathered in a spirit of unity to pray for peace and harmony in the world.

The programme began with a welcome address delivered by Archbishop Anil Joseph Couto, Secretary General of CBCI, followed by an opening bhajan on peace and the lighting of the traditional lamp. Brahma Kumari Husain Bandi Imam led a Shanti Meditation session.

The key highlight of the gathering was the offering of prayers by leaders from diverse religious traditions according to their own Faith formulas and slokas. These included Dr AK Merchant and Mrs Nilakshi Rajkhowa, the leaders of the Baha'i Community, Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok, Former Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament (Buddhist), Cardinal Anthony Poola, President of CBCI (Christian), Swami Sarvalokananda, Secretary of the Rama Krishna Mission (Hindu), Dr Waris Hussain, Assistant Secretary of Jammat-e-Islami Hind (Islamic), Acharya Lokesh Muni, Founder of Ahimsa Peace Centre (Jain), and Marazban Nariman Zaiwalla, leader of the Parsi community (Zoroastrian).

In the open session that followed, others also offered prayers, followed by a common prayer, "Lord, make me an instrument of Peace," which was recited by all holding lighted candles. The assembly agreed to adopt a resolution on global peace.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by the organiser, Fr. Dr Anthoniraj Thumma, Secretary of the CBCI Office for Dialogue and Desk for Ecumenism, and a closing bhajan. The Shanthi Sabha Prayer Meeting reflected CBCI's ongoing commitment to fostering interreligious harmony and promoting collective spiritual efforts toward global peace.