Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam and Leah Pisar engaged in an in- depth dialogue with the students of the Summer University for Intercultural Leadership and discussed the importance of peace-building through interfaith initiatives, highlighting the essential role of young people in promoting mutual understanding and friendship between cultures.

The Judge affirmed the importance of respect for diversity, stressing that respect for differences must go hand in hand with the encouragement of friendship and mutual understanding. The Judge recalled that human fraternity, as advocated by figures such as Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al- Azhar, is based on the idea that, despite all our differences, it is possible to work together harmoniously to protect the common values of humanity. This friendship between two major religious figures from different faiths illustrates that interfaith dialogue and mutual understanding are not only possible, but necessary for world peace.

Judge Abdelsalam pointed out that the world is going through a period of great suffering, punctuated by geopolitical conflicts and humanitarian crises. Although the situation may seem gloomy, he expressed confidence in the future thanks to such meetings of young minds and the commitment of young people. He spoke of the importance of seeing young people from different cultures living, working, and learning together and developing lasting friendships, in the hope that they would become leaders in their communities and be able to act as a resource in times of crisis.

Leah Pisar expressed the conviction that, although the present may seem bleak, the younger generations have the power to transform international relations through their actions.

For Judge Abdelsalam, meetings with students such as this gathering are essential opportunities to strengthen understanding and cooperation between different cultures and religions. He recalled that, in times of crisis, the real challenge is to remain faithful to the principles of truth, justice and human solidarity. He called for a concerted effort to change this reality, not by turning a blind eye to difficulties, but by acting with courage and determination to promote peace.

A central point of the discussion was the role of the media and algorithms in shaping public opinion. Judge Abdelsalam and Leah Pisar warned of the dangers of disinformation and polarization caused by single, biased sources. They denounced the way in which certain extremist groups use the media to propagate their ideologies, thereby contaminating minds and exacerbating tensions. They encouraged students to check their sources of information and to seek the truth with discernment, stressing that “the media can enlighten as well as blind minds”.

In conclusion, Leah Pisar and Judge Abdelsalam cautioned against the negative impact of some social media narratives and encouraged young people to pursue their own search for truth and understanding. The feeling of powerlessness in the face of crises should not lead to passivity, but rather inspire everyone to find ways of acting constructively.

The discussion ended on an optimistic note, highlighting the potential of young leaders to foster positive change in their communities through understanding and cooperation across cultural and religious boundaries.