. . DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION . .
An article by Patricia Ynestroza in Vatican News
“Building Networks Between Cultures, Generations, and Nations” From Latin America to the World. Since 2020, an international movement has been created that promotes peace through education, art, and intercultural dialogue, with the participation of leaders, young people, and international institutions. In a global context marked by social, cultural, and humanitarian challenges, the World Peace Congress is consolidating itself as an international initiative that promotes the active construction of a culture of peace, based on unity in diversity and collective commitment. The sixth edition will take place in August.
Honduras to Host the Next Congress
A delegation participated in the Holy Father’s general audience in St. Peter’s Square on June 17, reaffirming its commitment to promoting universal fraternity and strengthening ties between peoples of different continents.
A movement born in times of pandemic
The World Congress for Peace emerged in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when restrictions forced meetings to move online. What began as a series of Zoom meetings grew into an international platform with a presence in various countries. Following the health emergency, the movement began an in-person phase that has taken place in several Latin American countries: Costa Rica in 2023, Mexico in 2024, Argentina in 2025, and soon Honduras, which will host the sixth edition of the Congress in August 2026.
The initiative brings together educators, academics, scientists, business leaders, writers, artists, social leaders, universities, and institutions committed to building more inclusive and compassionate societies.
Peace as a Response to Poverty, Hunger, and Pain
Vatican News interviewed Elena Vargas, the international president of the World Peace Congress, who explained that the movement’s main objective is to transform human suffering into hope. “Our greatest responsibility is to transform the pain brought on by war, poverty, hunger, and suffering into hope. All of this contributes to the lack of peace. What we bring to each country is a message of peace that begins in the heart of every human being,” she stated.
Vargas highlighted that the Congress has carried out activities in various countries in the Americas and Europe, including Spain and Italy, strengthening an international network of people committed to reconciliation and dialogue. She also expressed the delegation’s emotion at participating in the papal audience.
Meeting with the Pope to discuss their work for peace
During the general audience, the delegation presented the Holy Father with various gifts as an expression of fraternity among peoples.
From Costa Rica, a work by the painter and poet Franklin Mata was presented, inspired by symbols of peace, featuring doves, birds in flight, and female figures representing the search for harmony.
A brochure summarizing the history and main milestones of the World Peace Congress was also distributed.
From Peru, Dr. Manuel Barba, International Ambassador of Peace, offered a traditional vessel used for sharing chicha, an ancestral symbol of friendship and brotherhood. The object also holds deep significance for the Pope, who carried out much of his pastoral work in Peru.
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How can we develop the institutional framework for a culture of peace?
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From Honduras, the city of Siguatepeque presented an artwork by the painter Geraldina Aguilar, depicting Honduran women amidst the region’s characteristic natural landscape. The piece incorporates cultural, gastronomic, and heritage elements of the city, such as the Central Park and the San Pablo Parish.
From Specialists to an Intergenerational Movement
The director of Living Peace International, Carlos Palma, recalled that the first meetings were primarily composed of specialists and professionals involved in peace-related issues. However, over the years, the movement recognized the need to involve new generations.
“We felt the imperative for the Congress to become a starting point where the human heart is the root of peace. That is why the presence of young people and children is fundamental today,” he explained.
According to Palma, recent editions have included young people from various countries who share experiences and concrete projects to build peace within their communities. The initiative seeks to ensure that peace is understood not only as the absence of war, but as a daily attitude that begins in the family, the school, and the community.
“We often think that war is far away, but it can be within ourselves, in our families, or in our neighborhoods. First, we must achieve our own peace so that we can then share it with others,” he reflected.
Youth as Agents of Change
The Deputy Director of the World Peace Congress, Eduardo Sánchez, highlighted that one of the main achievements over the years has been precisely cultivating a culture of peace among the new generations. One of the central aspects of the Congress is the active participation of young people organized in networks and collectives, he stated, who develop initiatives related to peaceful coexistence, education, and human rights.
Sánchez emphasized that the work with children, adolescents, and university students is carried out through educational activities, workshops, and projects promoted in conjunction with organizations such as Living Peace.
Honduras to Host the Next World Congress
The sixth edition of the World Peace Congress will be held from August 18 to 23, 2026, in Honduras, under the theme: “Weaving Networks, Building Peace.” The official venues will be: Siguatepeque, Comayagua, and Lake Yojoa.
The event’s co-coordinator, Dania Mayorquín, explained that this edition will focus on strengthening youth participation through workshops, artistic activities, and educational opportunities.
“We want peace to be built from the earliest ages. Not only through conferences, but also through workshops where young people are protagonists and promoters of peace,” she stated. Universities, educational centers, schools, and colleges in the region are already being invited to actively participate in the program.
One of the highlights will be a large-scale event organized by Living Peace in the central plaza of Siguatepeque, featuring prayer, music, art, and community reflection.
A Peace Built Every Day
More than just an annual gathering, the World Peace Congress defines itself as an international movement aimed at creating permanent networks of cooperation among individuals, institutions, and communities. Inspired by a holistic vision of peace—encompassing education, culture, human values, and respect for diversity—the Congress, according to those interviewed, promotes the conviction that social transformation begins with each individual and is strengthened through collective commitment.
With their sights set on Honduras 2026, its organizers are confident that the message of fraternity will continue to spread. “Yes, peace can be built,” those interviewed agreed. A task that, they assert, requires dialogue, education, and the active participation of new generations to keep alive the hope for a more humane, compassionate, and reconciled world.
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