Opening the 60th anniversary commemoration of Nostra Aetate at Hekima University College, Dr. Norbert Litoing, SJ, Director of the Center for Interfaith Studies in Africa (CISA), set a tone of solemn reflection and renewed commitment to interreligious friendship.
He began by acknowledging the national mourning in Kenya following the passing of the Right Honorable Raila Amolo Odinga, describing him as a “man of service, courage, and unwavering dedication to justice and democracy.” In the spirit of Nostra Aetate, Dr. Litoing invited participants to a moment of silence, reminding them that recognizing “the image of God in every person” calls all people of faith to work for peace, justice, and the welfare of all.
Turning to the conference theme, Dr. Litoing recalled that when the Second Vatican Council issued Nostra Aetate in 1965, it opened “a new horizon” for the Church as one of dialogue, respect, and collaboration among people of all faiths. Sixty years later, he challenged participants to reflect on “How far have we come? What remains unfinished? And how can Africa enrich this vision of interreligious friendship?”
Welcoming Professor Francis X. Clooney, SJ, from Harvard University, as the keynote speaker, Dr. Litoing praised his scholarship and example of living interreligious dialogue within the global Church. He also expressed gratitude to the day’s panelists, noting that their insights would help interpret Nostra Aetate “through African eyes and shared human experience.”
Dr. Litoing emphasized that for CISA, dialogue is not an option but a vocation, a calling rooted in shared humanity and faith in a God “who speaks, listens, and enters into relationship with creation.” He described dialogue not as an academic formality or polite exchange, but as a way of life founded on openness, mutual respect, and the search for truth.
In Africa, he noted, diversity is both “our richness and our challenge.” Amid spiritual vibrancy and ancient wisdom, the continent continues to bear the “wounds of misunderstanding and conflict.” Nostra Aetate, he said, reminds believers that genuine encounter can heal memories, build bridges, and open new pathways toward peace and shared flourishing.
He called on participants to resist indifference and to engage courageously with those who see the world differently, affirming that the Spirit of God is already at work “in every culture and religion.” The task of believers and scholars, he said, is to recognize and collaborate with that divine presence wherever it is found.
Dr. Litoing expressed heartfelt appreciation to Hekima’s leadership, colleagues, students, and partners whose dedication made the event possible “even under the shadow of national mourning.” He particularly thanked the Principal of Hekima University College for steadfast support and hospitality, noting that such unseen acts of generosity “sustain the spirit of dialogue” on campus.
Concluding his remarks, he invited all present to begin the conference “in a spirit of gratitude and hope,” recommitting themselves to the vision of Nostra Aetate and to working sincerely for mutual understanding, social justice, and peace among all humankind.
