On 10 November 2025, an Informal Interfaith Gathering in the Spirit of the Talanoa Dialogue was held at the Lutheran Church in Belém as COP30 commenced. Faith communities from around the world came together in a warm atmosphere of storytelling, listening, and shared reflection.
The evening opened with a heartfelt welcome from Pastor Romeu of the Lutheran Church, followed by a gentle moment of deep stillness led by Sister Maureen from the Brahma Kumaris, who invited everyone into silence — the place where the seeds of peace are sown.
Rev. Henrik Grape, Co-Chair of the Interfaith Liaison Committee (ILC), then introduced the purpose of the gathering and anchored the reflections in the three guiding Talanoa questions: Where are we? Where do we want to go? How do we get there?
Participants, both on-site and online, joined small breakout circles held in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. These groups became spaces of sincere exchange, where stories, concerns, and hopes for a just and sustainable world were shared. Members of the Brahma Kumaris actively contributed, emphasizing the importance of inner transformation, peace, and elevated consciousness as essential drivers of meaningful climate action.
This interfaith gathering offered a spiritually uplifting beginning to COP30, reminding everyone that while governments negotiate policies, faith communities help cultivate the moral strength, unity, and courage needed to face the global climate challenge together.
