Faith Leaders in Asia Call for Shared Works of Peace. In a pastoral reflection, Catholic Bishop Jose Colin M. Bagaforo of Kidapawan in Mindanao, south Philippines, has urged both communities to treat the convergence not as coincidence but as a call to shared responsibility, emphasizing that peace must be lived and worked for, not merely prayed for.
“This shared beginning is a grace,” the Filipino prelate said, inviting believers “to slow down, to return to God, and to walk together in faith” at a time marked by violence, division, and ecological crisis.
Ramadan and Lent are traditionally seasons of prayer, fasting, repentance, and generosity. While observed differently, both emphasize self-discipline and compassion for the poor.
Drawing from Christian and Islamic scriptures, the bishop’s letter message highlighted peace as a central value in both faiths, citing Jesus’ blessing of peacemakers and the Qur’an’s invitation to humanity to enter the “Home of Peace.”
Read the full reflection.