In a time when many traditions seem to fade into the background, Easter continues to

pose questions to both believers and the curious alike. Its meaning is no longer

universally assumed, yet perhaps for this very reason, its power to speak to the modern

world is more compelling than ever.

 

For Christians, the heart of Easter remains unchanged: the triumph of life over death, of

hope over human limits. Yet today, Easter also resonates as a cultural and social reality.

The Easter story, death and resurrection, can be read as a universal human narrative:

endings and new beginnings, loss and transformation, crisis and renewal. Nietzsche

spoke of the “revaluation” of values, rebuilding meaning after certainty collapses.

Camus described the absurdity of life, where meaning is not given.

 

In this context, Easter offers a quiet yet radical response: it does not hand down

meaning; it affirms that the search for it is worthwhile. Kierkegaard reminds us that the

“leap” of faith - or of life - is not logical, but a deliberate decision. In this light,

resurrection becomes not merely an event that occurs, but a choice to inhabit the world

differently. Its roots lie in the Jewish Passover, Pesach, the celebration of liberation. In

this, Easter reveals a profoundly human truth: the decisive passage lies not in avoiding

limits, but in crossing them.

 

In a culture often keen to obscure death, Easter returns fundamental questions to the

centre: the meaning of suffering, the boundaries of life, and the destiny of humankind.

 

Its significance endures if it is actively sought. For the believer, it remains a living truth

and a wellspring of hope. For the contemporary individual, even those distant from faith,

it can serve as a lens through which to read life’s crises and recoveries. Easter no

longer dictates its meaning. But precisely for that reason, it makes meaning available. It

continues to whisper something essential: that endings need not be final, and that every

threshold - even the darkest - can become a doorway to significance.

 

Teresa Albano,

Senior Programme Manager, Europe region

 

 

When we launched the Creating Change from the Inside Out grants as part of the 6th

European Policy Dialogue Forum dialogue-action cycle, our goal was to turn ideas into

action. KAICIID invited changemakers across Europe to bring local dialogue to life;

whether in busy cities or quieter communities grappling with inclusion and

understanding.

 

We heard from artists, activists, youth leaders and practitioners, each sharing visions of

social cohesion, environmental protection and ethical finance in their contexts. Some

imagined bridges between cultures; others, spaces where difference becomes strength.

The two grant tracks, Cities for Inclusion and Catalysts for Cohesion, offer distinct

lenses: one focused on urban partnerships, the other on empowering the next

generation. Choosing was not easy.

 

What stood out most was not just the challenge of selection, but the abundance of ideas

for change – proof that even in complexity, creative energy is ready to drive dialogue,

cohesion and sustainability. Stay tuned for the next edition to discover the selected

projects.

 

 

While interreligious dialogue benefits from being a scientific field of study, it also enjoys

great applied capacity for everyday human life, within all contexts and for all situations.

If the importance of interreligious dialogue may have been questioned twenty years ago,

nowadays its necessity has become obvious, and many would argue even urgent.  The

practice of using interreligious dialogue (IRD) for building social cohesion, peace and

reconciliation is rapidly emerging as a necessary tool for the twenty-first century

education toolbox.

 

In this context, and with regards to the need to fill the existing lack of accredited

academic e-learning courses on interreligious dialogue, KAICIID has developed an e-

learning course entitled, “Using Interreligious Dialogue (IRD) to Strengthen Peace,

Reconciliation and Social Cohesion”. The course has been customized to address the

evolving needs of religious leaders, policy- and decision makers, KAICIID Fellows, faith-

based organizations, international organizations, civil society organizations, and

government officials. Register here and earn your certificate.

 

 

 

 

- Stated Ambassador António de Almeida Ribeiro, Acting Secretary-General of KAICIID.
 

 

 

From growing across Nigeria, Ethiopia and the UK to responding to the 2004 tsunami in Sri

Lanka, I share how my journey is shaped by both my personal experience and global

perspective. I talk about the realization that peace is not just about structures but about

relationships. In the podcast I also explore the role of faith in rebuilding trust, what young people are really searching for today, why interfaith work must go beyond dialogue.

 

 

- Become a Laudato Si’ Animator! Animators are members of the Laudato Si Movement, a global community of prayer and action, who animate their local parishes and communities to engage in ecological spirituality, sustainable lifestyles and advocacy for climate and ecological justice.

 

- Earn a Certificate in Applied AI for Social Good by joining GenAI experts for four short, free, and hands-on modules built for nonprofit professionals by Polisync and other leading NGOs including Globethics. Learn how to use AI for operations, research, and storytelling; and design your own AI ethics and governance framework to guide responsible innovation.

 

- “FoRB and the European Union” ISFORB International Conference, 7-8 May, ETF

Leuven, Belgium “How society cares for the dead - A matter of freedom of religion or belief and human dignity”, Missio, online event on 15 April.

 

- Applications open for the Alliance Inclusion Fund, a storytelling fund, to support and

incentivise contributions from those who would otherwise face barriers to sharing their

time and expertise.

 

- Apply now for Anna Lindh Foundation’s “Hands-On 2025-2026 edition”, an opportunity

to level up your skills and enhance your professional capacity with free online non-

theoretical training from peers who walked the same professional path as you are now.
 

 

 

 

If you are receiving this newsletter, it is because you participated in one of the events or initiatives organized by the KAICIID Europe Region since 2022. The contents of this email message and any attachments are confidential and are intended solely for addressee. The information may also be legally privileged. This transmission is sent in trust, for the sole purpose of delivery to the intended recipient. If you have received this transmission in error, any use, reproduction or dissemination of this transmission is strictly prohibited.