2007 Parliament Launch
Religious and spiritual leaders from Melbourne's diverse faith communities joined together at Federation Square on 6 December 2007 to launch the 2009 Parliament of the World's Religions. At the launch, Melbourne was announced as the 2009 host of the largest multi-faith gathering of religious and spiritual leaders in world history, attracting from 8,000 to 10,000 guests from 80 countries.
Held once every five years in a different city, the Parliament of the World's Religions attracts thousands of leaders and members from spiritual and religious communities around the globe to engage in discussions, debate and presentations. “This will be a wonderful opportunity for all people of goodwill to learn about and understand each other's beliefs better”, said Professor Gary Bouma, Chair of the Melbourne Parliament.
The official handover of the Parliament from Chicago, birthplace of the event, to Melbourne was followed by the announcement of the first major international keynote speaker, His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
“Religion and relationships between people of different faiths are playing a greater role on the world stage than ever before,” Professor Bouma said. “In a world divided by religious conflict, the Parliament will bring Melbourne into the international spotlight and give it the chance to profile its grassroots efforts to build understanding between faith communities, break down stereotypes and allay fears, particularly of the Muslim community.”
The 2009 Parliament of the World's Religions is being supported by the Victorian Government, the City of Melbourne and the Australian Government's Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
