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The Interreligious Council of Peru — Religions for Peace convened its annual meeting on November 28, 2024, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Lima. This event marked a decade since the signing of the "Commitment for Peru" agreement, which was established to uphold religious freedom and support family values.
Faith leaders from various denominations gathered with officials from the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights to honor those who contributed to this agreement. Elder Jorge T. Becerra, President of the Church's South America Northwest Area, welcomed attendees and emphasized the importance of unity among different faiths. He stated, "What I love about this council is the unity that exists among us. The scriptures say, ‘If ye are not one, ye are not mine.’ I believe that unity precedes miracles."
Monsignor Salvador Piñeiro, president of the Interreligious Council of Peru, expressed gratitude to participants and highlighted special recognition given to Dr. Javier Rodríguez Larraín and Monsignor Javier Del Río Alva for their roles in facilitating the agreement. Monsignor Del Río remarked on the enduring relevance of the document: "The document emerged as an inspiration from God, and hearing its content reminds me of how relevant this commitment remains today—perhaps even more urgent than it was 10 years ago."
The gathering also celebrated the 42nd anniversary of the United Nations' "Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief." Participants included representatives from Catholicism, Anglicanism, Presbyterianism, Judaism, Evangelicalism, Bahá’í Community, Interfaith Women’s Network, Interfaith Committee for Refugees and Migrants in Peru, and Religions for Peace Latin America and the Caribbean.
