In the second session of day two of the Common Word conference, religious leaders discuss the role of religion in violence and in peace building. How do we better understand both religion and violence, and religion and peace building? What are the major issues and best practices in counteracting  religious extremism?  How can religious authorities and community leaders de-legitimize extremism and acts of violence and terrorism?

Moderated by John Voll PhD., Professor of Islamic history and Associate Director of the Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown.

Panelists :
His Excellency Sheikh Mahmood A. Madani, Member of the Parliment of India;
His Beatitude Patriarch Theofilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem;
The Reverend J. Bryan Hehir, President of Catholic Charities USA;
His Excellency Sheikh Ali Gomaa, Grand Mufti of Egypt;
His Excellency Sheikh Mustafa Efendi Ceric, Grand Mufti of Bosnia-Herzegovina;
Heba Raouf, PhD, convener of the Building Global Democracy Program and Professor of political theory at the American University of Cairo;
The Rt. Rev. & Hon. Richard Chartes, D.D., F.S.A. Bishop of London.

The Common Word conference was sponsored by the Office of the President and the Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University, as well as the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought of Jordan. The panel was held in Gaston Hall.