Additional Prominent Religious Leaders who have participated in events organized by the Elijah Interfaith Institute
Pope John Paul II
Karol Jozef Wojtya , known as John Paul II since his October 16, 1978 election to the papacy, was born in Wadowice, a small city 50 kilometres from Cracow Poland, on May 18, 1920. Since the start of his Pontificate, Pope John Paul II has completed 102 pastoral visits outside of Italy and 144 within Italy . His principal documents include 14 encyclicals, 15 apostolic exhortations , 11 apostolic constitutions and 43 apostolic letters. The Pope has also published three books : “Crossing the Threshold of Hope” (October 1994); “Gift and Mystery: On the 50th Anniversary of My Priestly Ordination” (November 1996) and “Roman Tryptych – Meditations”, a book of poems (March 2003).
Archbishop Aristarkos
Secretary General of the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Patriarche of Jerusalem.
Bishop Gali Bali
Bishop Bali is the Bishop of Gundur, India. He holds a doctoral degree in Theology. Prior to his Episcopal ordination in 1984, Bishop Bali was a Professor of Sacred Scriptures in St. John’s Regional Seminary in Hyderbad. He is a published author on the Church’s place in India. The Bishop is presently the Chairman of the CBCI Commission for Inter-Religious Dialogue and Desk for Ecumenism. In addition to attending the Third Meeting of the World Religious Leaders (2007), Bishop Bali represented Cardinal Toppo at the Fourth Meeting (2009).
Archbishop Dr. Elias Chacour
Archbishop Dr. Elias Chacour currently serves as Archbishop of Akko, Haifa, Nazareth and all Galilee of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. He is vice president of the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center, and the founder of the Mar Elias Educational Institutions in Northern Israel. Archbishop Chacour is the recipient of the prestigious World Methodist Peace Award and the Niwano Peace Prize. Archbishop Chacour attended the Fourth Meeting of the Board of World Religious Leaders (2009).
His Eminence Paul Cardinal Shan
His Eminence Paul Cardinal Shan, the Bishop of Kaohsiung since 1991, has been an active member in religious education and theological councils. He was ordained a priest in 1955 and has served as a religious educator and minister in the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan. In 1998, Shan was appointed Cardinal by His Holiness Pope John Paul II. Cardinal Shan is also Chair of the Board of Trustees at Fu Jen Catholic University.
Father MD Thomas
Father Thomas is the National Director of the Commission for Inter-religious Dialogue in the Catholic Bishop’s Conference in India. He has worked in the area of interreligious dialogue for the past 17 years, delivering lectures worldwide. Father Thomas also has a doctorate in Hindi literature. His book, entitled “Kabeer and Christian Thought”, was awarded by the Hindi Academy, Delhi. In addition to attending the Third Meeting of World Religious Leaders (2007), Fr. Thomas represented Cardinal Toppo at the Fourth Meeting (2009).
Archbishop Fouad Twal
Archbishop Twal is the Roman Catholic archbishop and Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. He was ordained a priest in 1966 and was appointed the vicar of Ramallah. In 1972 he entered the Pontifical Lateran University where he studied for a doctorate in canon law. He was appointed the prelate of the territorial prelature of Tunis in May 1992 and was consecrated to the episcopate later that year. In 1995 the territorial prelature was elevated to become the Diocese of Tunis, and he was made an archbishop ad personam. In 2005 he was named the coadjutor Archbishop of Jerusalem and in 2008 he became Patriarch of Jerusalem. The Archbishop attended the Fourth Meeting of the Board of World Religious Leaders in Haifa and Galilee (2009).
Cardinal Carlos Amigo Vallejo O.F.M.
Cardinal Carlos Amigo Vallejo O.F.M. has served as Archbishop of Seville since 1982 and has been ordained priest since 1960. He presides over the Episcopal Commission of Missions and Cooperation between the Churches in the Spanish Episcopal Conference and was previously President of the Episcopal Commission of Superior Bishops. Cardinal Vallejo is a recipient of the Favorite Son of Andalusia Award.
Prof. Bishop Krister Stendahl (Deceased)
Prof. Bishop Krister Stendahl (21 April 1921 – 15 April 2008) was a Swedish theologian and New Testament scholar, and Church of Sweden Bishop of Stockholm. He also served as professor and professor emeritus at Harvard Divinity School.
