Beyond Faiths, United for Nepal: Leaders of 9 World Religions Hold Joint Prayer Service

How do diverse faith traditions unite when tragedy strikes?

On September 19, 2026, an interfaith gathering titled "Joint Religious Prayer Service for Nepal's Recovery and Hope" took place at the HWPL Interfaith Office in Seoul. Co-hosted by HWPL, the Interfaith Peace Federation Nepal, and Hami Nepali Global, approximately 100 leaders and representatives from 9 distinct religious traditions gathered to offer support and solidarity for the victims of severe flooding in Nepal.

A Humanitarian Crisis Following Severe Flooding

Nepal recently suffered catastrophic damages due to torrential rains, flash floods, and landslides. According to official reports, over 1,400 lives were lost and more than 6,000 individuals remain missing, alongside extensive destruction of roads, hydropower plants, and critical infrastructure.

Facing this national tragedy, religious leaders transcended doctrinal boundaries to offer prayers of healing, restoration, and practical aid.

Diverse Traditions, One Shared Heart for Humanity

The prayer service brought together leaders representing Buddhism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Confucianism, Daejonggyo, Islam, Hinduism, Shincheonji, and the Family Federation. Each leader presented words of comfort according to their traditional rites:

• Buddhism: Venerable Wooryong recited the Heart Sutra, offering prayers for the souls of those lost and wishing for comfort for the surviving families.

• Protestantism: Pastor Jeong Un-san emphasized unity across denominations, praying: "May our joint prayers go beyond words and translate into tangible relief and action."

• Confucianism: Director Min Jeong-ki highlighted the spirit of mutual support (Hwannansanghyul), urging global neighbors to help Nepal rebuild its communities.

• Global Video Messages: Messages of hope were delivered via video by foreign leaders, including Archbishop Emeritus Antonio Ledesma of the Catholic Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro (Philippines), Hindu leader Mehta Jaydeep, and Islamic leader Faiyazullah Aman.

From Prayer to Action: Global Online Service Planned for October 3

Organizers emphasized that interfaith cooperation in times of disaster serves as a core manifestation of practical peace building.

An HWPL representative noted:

"While our forms of prayer and expressions differ, our reverence for life and compassion for suffering neighbors are identical. This service aims to mobilize practical support, including relief supplies for the people of Nepal."

To expand this global wave of humanitarian solidarity, HWPL and its partner organizations will host a Global Online Joint Prayer Service on the evening of October 3, 2026, connecting religious leaders worldwide to continue support for Nepal's recovery.

Source: https://vo.la/d7jR4oW