Braga, April 17, 2026 (Ecclesia) – The Portuguese Catholic University in Braga will host an international conference on intercultural and interreligious dialogue on April 21 and 22, where the main findings of a European project carried out in seven countries will be presented.
“In an international context marked by tensions and polarization, initiatives such as InterMu-Se are essential for promoting dialogue, mutual understanding, and respect among different religious communities,” said Paulo Dias, vice-rector of the Portuguese Catholic University for the Braga Campus, in a statement sent to Agência ECCLESIA.
The Portuguese Catholic University in Braga will host the final international conference of the European project InterMu-Se – Inter-religious coalition building against anti-Muslim hatred and anti-Semitism –, funded by the European Commission through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values program.
“For two years, the InterMu-Se project sought to assess negative stereotypes and forms of intolerance, particularly against Jewish and Muslim communities,” explained André Vieira Antunes, a member of the project team in Portugal.
The researcher added that they have developed methodologies that promote “empowerment and greater understanding among Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities”.
The main results of the European InterMu-Se project, which involved seven countries —Portugal, Greece, France, Italy, Spain, Cyprus, and Ireland—training programs for religious leaders and civil society organizations, as well as local initiatives implemented in various European countries, will be presented in Braga on April 21 and 22 at the Final International Conference, with the participation of national and international experts, religious leaders, and representatives of civil society.
The conference program includes thematic panels; on the first day, the highlight is the panel “Interfaith Dialogue in the 21st Century,” from 9:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., featuring experts such as Salar Abassi of the UCP School of Law, Victor Sorensen, Archbishop Michael Jackson of Dublin from the Church of Ireland, Christine Taieb, and Areti Demosthenous.
Also on April 21, the project’s main findings will be presented, including common challenges and best practices in intercultural and interfaith cooperation, as well as the training program developed for religious leaders and civil society organizations.
The second day of the InterMu-Se project’s international conference features a panel discussion on “religious freedom and coexistence in polarized societies,” with presentations by representatives of European organizations and religious leaders, including Maryana Hnyp, Sheikh David Munir, imam of the Central Mosque of Lisbon, and Patricia Kieran, director of the Irish Institute for Catholic Studies.
The conference concludes with the panel discussion “A Culture of Encounter for a Divided World,” during which experts from academic institutions and international organizations will reflect on ways to promote dialogue in a world marked by social and cultural divisions.
The UCP Braga Campus announces that this initiative is intended for religious leaders, faith-based organizations and schools, and the general public; participation is available in person or online, subject to prior registration.
