Paris, France—Dialogue & Alliance held its monthly interfaith meeting on the proposed theme for the new year: "Cultivating Peace Daily.”

The 21st Francophone reading and discussion of various faiths’ scriptures was held on January 15, 2023.

Requests for participation were received from 19 countries. Several people met face-to-face in Paris and in the northern French town of Loos, as well as in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo) and Bamako (Mali).

The moderator was Soraya Ayouch, a professor of psychology at the University of Paris and a member of the sponsoring committee of Dialogue & Alliance.

At the beginning of each year, we resolve to avoid repeating our failures and to transform our daily lives with more constructive habits, Ms. Ayouch said. This year, therefore, Dialogue & Alliance proposes to cultivate habits to end repetitive discord and resolutely opt for the path of reconciliation.

To introduce the theme of the year 2023, Jean-François Moulinet, the director of Dialogue & Alliance, commented on the phrase of Lao-tzu: “Watch your thoughts; they become your words. Watch your words; they become your actions. Watch your actions; they become your habits. Watch your habits; they become your character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.”

The Venerable Michel Thao Chan, the president and founder of the Cercle de Réflexion des Nations, then presented a Buddhist point of view on this subject.

Finally, Dr. Mohamed Larbi Haouat, the president of the Association of Solidarity for Integration through Languages, Education and Culture (ASILEC), a doctor of state, strategic studies of international relations, Arab-Muslim World, presented a Muslim point of view.

During two musical breaks, the choir Nouvel Espoir from the Democratic Republic of the Congo performed the beautiful songs Tongil and Nous avons chanté la paix.

The meeting concluded with a question-and-answer session led by Laurent Ladouce.

The recording of this program is available on the UPF-France YouTube channel here.