Some moments in life make you step back and see the world in a new light. More often than not this happens when travelling to new places and meeting new people. For me, it was on a recent trip to Rome and the Vatican.
It is widely known that religion bridges cultures and communities. Yet, it is only by visiting these places that we really understand what this means in reality. The Holy See is one of many symbols of religious unity that brings together 1.2 billion Catholics from all nationalities. This sense of global purpose and mutual cooperation was exemplified on my visit to a meeting of the General Audience. Here thousands of the faithful from around the world come together to worship, to pray and to sing. I even met a group of pilgrims from Nigeria – where I originally come from – and we shared stories about our backgrounds and what brought us to Rome.
The power of this international unity is, for millions of people across the globe, also a central part of Judaism. As one of the world’s oldest religions, its history spans nations worldwide. In Italy, it is the longest-standing religion – with the Jewish community dating back to before the birth of Christ. And there is no better place to experience the modern-day result of this than at the Great Synagogue of Rome. It was here, in 1986, that Pope John Paul II hailed Jews as the elder brothers of Catholics and prayed for a better world with the Chief Rabbi on the first Papal visit to a Synagogue since St Peter. This inter-faith connection still rings true today.
On my visit, I had the honour of meeting Chief Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni, who expressed the strong ties that their community has with the Catholic Church. He told me of his recent visit to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia where, for the first time, religious leaders from all faiths came together in a Forum of Common Values, to explore their global vision for interfaith cooperation. Together, we welcomed this historic moment and the inter-religious work that’s taking place worldwide to promote community cohesion.
However, it was on my visit to Rome’s Jewish Museum – which lies alongside the Great Synagogue – where the importance of interfaith cohesion really came into focus. The Holocaust, which saw the murder of six million Jewish men, women and children, provides a stark reminder of where hatred and intolerance can lead.
It is only by remembering this history, that we can build a better future. That is why, here in the UK, we are building a lasting memorial to ensure that what happened in the Holocaust is never forgotten.
It will provide a space to reflect, remember and honour those who were murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators, as well as victims of subsequent genocides. We owe this lasting memorial not just to Holocaust survivors, but to the British people now and for generations to come. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that we continue to educate young people on the serious consequences of antisemitism through our national curriculum and as part of the learning programme envisaged at the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre.
I was also proud to tell Chief Rabbi of Rome of our progress in becoming the first country to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism. He welcomed this success and our continued efforts to encourage other bodies to join. And as part of this, we look forward to chairing the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance in 2024. However, we agreed there is more to be done.
As Faith Minister, I consider a person’s freedom to worship and express their religion or belief as a fundamental and universal human right. It’s sadly one that is denied or under threat for so many across the globe. But I am proud, however, to be part of a government that is working hard to change that.
On 5 and 6 July, we are hosting an international ministerial conference in London bringing together governments, civil society and faith groups from all over the world. Our aim is to accelerate efforts to prevent freedom of religion or belief violations wherever they occur and robustly defend this human right in every corner of the globe. Faith has an unparalleled power to inspire and bring people together. But, sadly, it is also the basis for some to be targets of terror and hatred. I am confident that our conference in July will unite religious and belief leaders from across the globe in our common mission to end this injustice.
Kemi Badenoch is Minister for Local Government, Faith and Communities
