Türkiye’s Ambassador to the Vatican Altun calls dialogue the foundation of peace — Anadolu Agency
Türkiye’s Ambassador to the Vatican, Fahrettin Altun, said on September 29 that religion and diplomacy can contribute to peace through dialogue, respect for human dignity, and the coexistence of people from different backgrounds. This was reported by Anadolu Agency.
Speaking at an event organized by Carita Politica, Altun raised the question of whether humanity can live in peace while preserving its differences. According to him, this is particularly relevant amid wars, displacement, inequality, and a crisis of trust in international institutions.
Dignity and differences
The diplomat said that the world is experiencing not only political and geopolitical crises, but also moral and anthropological ones. He believes that consumer culture increasingly defines a person through their possessions, consumption, and desires, while religious traditions emphasize responsibility, sacrifice, meaning, and the ability to transcend one’s own self.
Referring to the Quran, Altun said that human dignity belongs to every person regardless of political identity, nationality, or ethnic origin. He also mentioned the Quranic concept of lita'arafu, meaning “so that you may know one another,” and said that differences should be viewed as an invitation to mutual understanding rather than a source of conflict.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Diplomacy and justice
Altun said that diplomacy should not be reduced to managing relations between states, but should be the art of recognizing the existence of the other. In his view, dialogue does not require people to abandon their religious or cultural identity. He called for unity without uniformity, differences without hostility, and identity without exclusion.
According to the ambassador, international politics cannot rely solely on calculations of power and interests, as lasting peace requires justice. He added that religious traditions can remind politicians of the human consequences of decisions on war, sanctions, and migration. Separately, Altun said that the development of artificial intelligence raises fundamental questions about the essence of humanity that, in his view, cannot be answered by technology, markets, or power.
Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, said that the Vatican considers freedom of religion and worship to be the first among fundamental rights. He also noted that the Vatican and religious communities can contribute to peace and diplomacy, while the multilateral system is experiencing a crisis.
