Global religious leaders close Kuala Lumpur summit with focus on peace and youth

More than 2,000 religious leaders, scholars, officials and young delegates from 31 countries gathered in Kuala Lumpur for the 2026 International Summit of Religious Leaders. The summit ended with calls for peace, social cohesion and youth empowerment, plus a new global diplomacy award announced to recognize peacemaking and coexistence. Why it matters: - The Kuala Lumpur summit put religious leadership, youth engagement and digital-age risks at the center of a global conversation about peace and social stability. - The gathering highlighted how faith leaders are being asked to respond to artificial intelligence, digital media and extremist narratives that can shape public life. - The new Global Diplomacy Award creates a public incentive for peacebuilding, moderation and conflict resolution. What happened: - More than 2,000 religious leaders, scholars, academics, policymakers, diplomats and youth representatives from 31 countries attended the 2026 Third International Summit of Religious Leaders in Kuala Lumpur. - The summit took place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre and was co-hosted by the Muslim World League and the Office of the Prime Minister of Malaysia. - The opening ceremony included the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, secretary-general of the Muslim World League and chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars. - The summit also drew 26 ambassadors, dozens of ministers and senior international representatives. The details: - Al-Issa said religious leaders have a responsibility to address challenges that affect global stability and social cohesion. - Al-Issa stressed the need to equip young people with rational resilience and ethical values so they can use emerging technologies and manage risks tied to AI and digital media. - Youth participation was a core theme, with nearly 2,000 young delegates from different cultural and religious backgrounds joining the discussions. - The youth sessions focused on responsible digital citizenship, inclusive leadership, countering extremism and encouraging young people to take part in public life. - Speakers also examined social harmony and mutual respect, youth leadership and education, the challenges facing young people, and the role of religious leaders in shaping future generations. - Participants emphasized dialogue, coexistence and cooperation as tools for building resilient societies. - During the summit, Al-Issa met youth religious leaders, university students and researchers from different cultural and religious backgrounds outside the main sessions. Between the lines: - The summit framed religious leaders as civic actors, not only spiritual figures, in efforts to manage social fragmentation and technological change. - The heavy emphasis on youth suggests the organizers see long-term peacebuilding as dependent on education, inclusion and early leadership development. - The launch of the Global Diplomacy Award signals a broader attempt to turn summit messaging into a recurring international platform with visible recognition. What’s next: - The summit closed with calls to deepen international cooperation, promote ethical leadership and treat young people as essential partners in peace, mutual understanding and sustainable development. - The Global Diplomacy Award is set to recognize individuals and institutions that advance peace, moderation, coexistence and peaceful dispute resolution. - The Muslim World League said the organization continues its work from Mecca with offices in the U.S., Europe and Asia and consultative ties to the United Nations, UNESCO and UNICEF. - More information is available on the Muslim World League’s social channels , Facebook , TikTok and X . The bottom line: - The Kuala Lumpur summit ended with a clear message: peacebuilding in a fast-changing world now depends on religious dialogue, stronger youth leadership and broader international cooperation.