Originally published by WGN 9 on August 13 by Jewell Hillery, Eli Ong
Religious and spiritual leaders from more than 200 different faiths and traditions around the globe are meeting in Chicago this week for the Parliament of the World’s Religions conference.
Starting Monday morning, 6,500-plus leaders from faith, civic and grassroots backgrounds representing more than 80 countries will convene at McCormick Place’s Lakeside Center, where a keynote speech will be given by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
“It’s definitely the largest interfaith gathering in the world,” said Stephen Avino, executive director for the conference. “Our theme this year is a call to conscience—defending freedom and human rights, and all people of faith, no faith and different ideologies could get behind that.”
