Peres proposes ‘UN for religions’ to Francis at Vatican

jpost.com Vatican City - Former president Shimon Peres emerged from a Vatican City audience with Pope Francis Thursday after proposing a kind of United Nations for religions. Peres, 91, who was the world’s oldest head of state until his term ended six weeks ago, met with Francis amid heightened tensions in the Middle East. He used the talks to highlight human rights abuses from Hamas and to discuss the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe. But the main topic of conversation was Peres’s idea to create a UN-like organization he called “the United Religions.”... Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi confirmed to reporters that Peres had pitched his idea for “the United Religions”... “The pope listened, showing his interest, attention, and encouragement,” Lombardi said, adding that the pope pointed to the Pontifical Councils for Interreligious Dialogue and for Justice and Peace as existing agencies “suitable” for supporting interfaith peace initiatives. to read more: jpost.com