Hekima University College Center for Interfaith Studies in Africa (CISA) marked the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate with an inspiring address by Dr. Marcel Uwineza, SJ, the College’s Principal. In his welcoming remarks, Dr. Uwineza celebrated the landmark Vatican II document as “a divine invitation to make space for difference” and a call to renew dialogue and cooperation among the world’s religions.
Opening with a reflection from Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Dr. Uwineza reminded participants that “the test of faith is whether I can make space for difference.” He emphasized that Nostra Aetate remains a living challenge, urging believers to recognize God’s image in those of other faiths. “Difference is not a threat, but a divine invitation,” he said.
Dr. Uwineza highlighted the timeliness of celebrating Nostra Aetate in Africa, a continent he described as “vibrantly plural and spiritually rich.” He noted that Africa’s daily experience of interreligious coexistence makes it an ideal setting for reimagining Nostra Aetate’s vision of mutual respect.
The Principal warmly welcomed Rev. Prof. Francis X. Clooney, SJ, Parkman Professor of Divinity at Harvard Divinity School and a leading voice in comparative theology, as the keynote speaker. Describing Clooney’s scholarship as “faith seeking understanding across religious borders,” Dr. Uwineza praised him for embodying Nostra Aetate’s spirit of encounter.
Dr. Uwineza outlined the conference’s threefold purpose: Reflecting on the Legacy of Nostra Aetate by assessing its influence on theology, pastoral practice, and peacebuilding; Promoting Interfaith Collaboration by highlighting grassroots efforts and the role of women as faith bridge-builders; Addressing Contemporary Challenges by confronting extremism, manipulation, and injustice that threaten peaceful coexistence.
Dr. Uwineza situated the celebration within Hekima’s broader academic rhythm, recalling recent conferences on Synodality and Leadership, Safeguarding, Political Leadership, and Law, Education, and Interfaith Relations in Kenya. He also cited new publications, which included Living Together Differently, Women and Synodality in Africa, and Ressuscité de mes cendres, as fruits of Hekima’s ongoing intellectual vitality.
“These initiatives reflect who we are,” he said. “A university is not only a place of learning but a home where faith and reason meet, where dialogue becomes the seedbed of transformation.”
Recalling a story from theologian Yves Congar, Dr. Uwineza shared how a Protestant pastor once opened his church to Catholics whose building had been destroyed during wartime. “In the face of broken walls, let there be no broken hearts,” the pastor said; a gesture that, Dr. Uwineza noted, captured the true spirit of Nostra Aetate.
In closing, Dr. Uwineza urged participants to view the 60th anniversary not merely as a commemoration but as a jubilee of hope.
With warmth and conviction, he welcomed all participants to Hekima University College and the Center for Interfaith Studies in Africa, inviting them to continue the mission of Nostra Aetate by building bridges of truth, compassion, and fraternity in Africa and beyond.
