As part of its European research tour – and in pursuit of fostering intellectual and cultural dialogue and building bridges of understanding – TRENDS Research & Advisory, through its virtual office in Italy, organized a dialogue session at the Vatican with Monsignor Dr. Yoannis Lahzi Gaid, member of the Vatican Secretariat of State in the Section for General Affairs and Representative of the Holy See in the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity. The session emphasized the importance of interfaith dialogue in promoting a culture of peace, tolerance, and coexistence and advancing global harmony.
TRENDS team also held a panel discussion with Professor Raffaele Marchetti, Director of the Center for International and Strategic Studies (CISS) at Luiss University in Italy, with the participation of an elite group of experts and researchers. The discussion focused on mechanisms to strengthen research cooperation and exchange expertise and knowledge, particularly in economic studies and artificial intelligence, organizing annual scientific conferences and forums, and partnership in training young researchers.
Promoting Peaceful Coexistence
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al Ali, CEO of TRENDS Research & Advisory, stated that the dialogue session at the Vatican underscored the importance of promoting interfaith dialogue and peaceful coexistence, emphasizing that all divine religions call for compassion, peace, tolerance, coexistence, and acceptance of others.
He added that think tanks today are required to play a vital and effective role in fostering a culture of civilized dialogue and countering extremism and hate speech. This can be achieved by building platforms for meaningful engagement and producing proactive knowledge that supports pathways of coexistence and reinforces the values of pluralism and mutual respect among religions and cultures.
Al-Ali noted that the session was part of TRENDS’ ongoing efforts to strengthen intellectual communication. It is driven by its firm belief that sound knowledge and objective dialogue are the shortest paths to achieving global stability and building a more peaceful and secure future.
Joint Training Programs
The CEO of TRENDS affirmed that, during the Center’s research tour in Italy, discussions were held with experts from CISS on ways to strengthen partnership and cooperation between the two institutions. The talks focused on areas such as economic and foresight studies, artificial intelligence, strategic analysis, training and development, launching joint research and training programs, and enhancing the integration of diverse research methodologies in addressing regional and international issues.
Dialogue As a Human Necessity
Monsignor Dr. Yoannis Lahzi Gaid, member of the Vatican Secretariat of State in the Section for General Affairs and Representative of the Holy See in the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity, praised the pioneering intellectual role played by TRENDS amid growing global challenges. He explained that this vital dialogue reflects a firm belief that interfaith dialogue is not an intellectual luxury, but an urgent human necessity.
Gaid emphasized that promoting a culture of dialogue and human solidarity is the most effective way to counter exclusionary policies and hate speech. This is exemplified by the efforts of think tanks and research centers — led by TRENDS — which strive to translate the Document on Human Fraternity principles into concrete action programs that promote human dignity and build a just and lasting peace for all humanity.
The dialogue session at the Vatican also highlighted the pivotal role of think tanks in reinforcing the values of moderation, developing practical strategies to spread a culture of peace and human coexistence, and strengthening global solidarity through interfaith dialogue as a key foundation for achieving sustainable development and shared prosperity.
Strengthening Research Collaboration
Professor Raffaele Marchetti, Director of CISS, emphasized that TRENDS is among the most influential research institutions committed to advancing knowledge and promoting scholarly dialogue. He said that this shared vision supports efforts to organize academic seminars, launch a researcher exchange program, and undertake projects on strategic issues of mutual interest.
Marchetti further added that in partnership with TRENDS, CISS will work to establish practical frameworks for cooperation that include sharing research expertise, conducting joint studies, and organizing conferences. He also emphasized the importance of sustained efforts to empower, train, and prepare the next generation of researchers to lead the future of the research landscape.
