The ‘what’ is not the challenge. The ‘how’ is

How to secure cooperation. How to marshal resources. How to mobilize political will. How to catalyze actions at all levels. And how to act in solidarity.

Scanning the globe today, we see a world in crisis.

The forces of division and hate are finding fertile ground in a landscape marred by injustices and conflicts.

Divisions are widening — between rich and poor, North and South and developed and emerging economies.

Tensions — geopolitical, social and economic — are rising.

A growing number of conflicts — including the war in Ukraine — is devastating lives and undermining economies.

A cost-of-living crisis is hitting the most vulnerable people the hardest.

Trust — in political leadership and in one another — is crumbling.

This breakdown in trust is leading to a breakdown in values.

Human rights and the rule of law are either neglected — or attacked outright.

Hate speech, disinformation and abuse are proliferating, targeting especially women and vulnerable groups. Intolerance and irrationality are running rampant. And old evils — antisemitism, anti-Muslim bigotry, persecution of Christians, xenophobia and racism — are receiving new leases on life.

These hateful and harmful afflictions feed off each other. They foment division and block collective action.

All this, while our climate hurtles toward irreversible tipping points — a clear and tragic result of our inability to work as one, for the common good of all.

Dear friends, we know what to do. We know that to curb the climate crisis, we need to reach carbon neutrality by mid-century and urgently reduce emissions this decade.

We know that to tackle global inequalities, we need to provide developing countries with the resources and support they need to invest in their future.

We know that we need urgent action to prevent further instability and hunger — from the Horn of Africa and the Sahel to Afghanistan to Haiti and beyond.

And we know that to halt the proliferation of conflicts, we need to strengthen prevention and build the foundations of lasting peace.

The ‘what’ is not the challenge. The ‘how’ is.

How to secure cooperation. How to raise ambition. How to marshal resources. How to mobilize political will. How to catalyze actions at all levels — from the global to the local. And how to act in solidarity.

The Alliance of Civilizations is helping show the way. You embody the core values enshrined in the United Nations Charter — “to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors.”

You are promoting more resilient and cohesive societies by putting a spotlight on Youth, Education, Media and Migration and the vital role of women as peacemakers.

You are working to build bridges and help people move from conflict to collaboration.

I particularly welcome your efforts to place youth at the center in communities torn apart by conflict.

I am also grateful to religious leaders across the world who are joining hands to promote dialogue and interfaith harmony.

The declaration “Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together” — co-authored by His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed El Tayeb — is a model for compassion and human solidarity.

We need this spirit more than ever.

Together, we can build an alliance of peace that spans the global and the local to meet the tests of our time.

If we recognize diversity as richness; and if we invest in inclusion; and if we make sure that all of us — regardless of race, descent, origin, background, gender, religion, or other status — can live lives of dignity and opportunity.

The Holy Quran teaches us that God created nations and tribes “so that we might know one another.”

At this time of peril, let us take inspiration and stand together as one human family. Rich in diversity, equal in dignity and rights, united in solidarity.

Let’s all do our part.