A Day for Peace, Dignity, and Hope.
What does peace really mean?
Is peace simply the absence of conflict, or is it something we practice through our everyday actions, relationships, and communities?
The National (Catholic) Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP) explored these questions through its National Peace Festival 2026, held on September 10, 2026, at the Renewal Centre in Youhanabad, Lahore. Held under the theme “When the Colours of Peace Return,” the festival brought together people from different faiths, cultures, communities, and walks of life to celebrate peace, dignity, diversity, and hope.
Just as a bouquet of different flowers reflects the beauty of nature, our diverse faiths, beliefs, cultures, and traditions can make society more beautiful. The NCJP Peace Festival 2026 was a reflection of this diversity and a reminder that peaceful coexistence begins with respect for one another.
A Day Dedicated to Peace, Dignity, and Hope
The day began with Holy Mass celebrated by His Excellency Bishop Samson Shukardin, Chairperson of NCJP and President of the Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference, together with other priests.
The celebration offered an important reflection on the meaning of peace. Peace begins with a change of heart and grows through compassion, justice, respect, and recognition of the dignity of every human person.
The message was especially relevant to the festival’s broader focus on peace and justice in Pakistan, where dialogue, mutual respect, and inclusion remain important for building stronger communities.
Peace Rally: A Symbol of Hope and Reconciliation
Following the Holy Mass, participants joined the Peace Rally, one of the significant moments of the National Peace Festival.
The cutting of the ribbon and the release of white pigeons into the sky provided a powerful symbol of peace, freedom, hope, and reconciliation. As the white birds rose above the gathering, they represented the possibility of a future where communities choose dialogue and understanding rather than division.
The rally brought together people who shared a common message: peace is possible when individuals and communities choose to build it together.
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Celebrating Pakistan’s Diversity Through Culture
Children added colour and energy to the festival through their cultural performances. Participants also exchanged traditional gifts, shared conversations, and connected with people from different backgrounds.
The cultural activities demonstrated that diversity does not have to divide communities. Instead, religious and cultural diversity can become a source of strength when people respect and celebrate their differences.
For a few hours, differences became something to celebrate rather than something to fear.
This was one of the central messages of “When the Colours of Peace Return.”
Recognizing Those Working for Human Rights and Justice
The NCJP National Peace Festival 2026 also recognized people who work throughout the year to promote human dignity, justice, and the rights of vulnerable communities.
NCJP staff, human rights defenders, lawyers, and journalists were recognized for their continued efforts to raise awareness, document human rights concerns, support vulnerable communities, and advocate for the rights of minorities.
Their work demonstrates that peace is not limited to public celebrations. It is also connected with the daily efforts of individuals and organizations working for justice, equality, human rights, and religious freedom.
Young People and Women Have an Important Role in Building Peace
Rev. Fr. Asif Saddar, Vicar General, highlighted the importance of involving different sections of society in the journey towards peace.
Young people, women, legal professionals, grassroots workers, and civil society members all have an important role to play in creating a more inclusive society.
Peace cannot be built by one institution, one community, or one generation alone. It requires participation from people across society.
Young People as Peace Ambassadors
Rev. Fr. Khalid Rasheed Asi, Diocesan Director NCJP Faisalabad, encouraged young people to become peace ambassadors in their communities.
Young people can play an important role in challenging prejudice, encouraging dialogue, and building trust among communities. Their involvement can help create spaces where differences are understood rather than feared.
Promoting Religious Harmony Through Dialogue
Mr. Kashif Anthony, Diocesan Coordinator, NCJP Karachi, spoke about the importance of strengthening interfaith dialogue at the grassroots level.
His message emphasized that peace becomes meaningful when people from different faith communities work together to address common concerns.
Interfaith dialogue is not simply about meeting one another. It is also about listening, understanding different perspectives, respecting religious beliefs, and cooperating for the common good.
A Message of Inclusion and Respect
MPA Shakeela Javed Arthur (PML-N) also shared her thoughts on peace, inclusion, and the rights and dignity of minority communities.
She emphasized the importance of building an inclusive society where people can live peacefully by respecting one another’s faiths, beliefs, and differences.
The participation of political representatives, religious leaders, civil society members, human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, young people, and community members reflected the importance of collective efforts for peace and inclusion.
Bishop Samson Shukardin Calls for Greater Commitment to Peace
Bishop Samson Shukardin emphasized the importance of strengthening our commitment to peace, equality, and religious harmony.
He highlighted that genuine peace is rooted in justice, empathy, mutual respect, and the protection of the dignity of every individual.
His message reflected the central purpose of the festival: peace is not simply a word or an annual theme. It is a responsibility that must be reflected in our actions and relationships.
“When the Colours of Peace Return”
Throughout the National Peace Festival 2026, the theme “When the Colours of Peace Return” came to life.
The colours could be seen everywhere:
- In the children’s cultural performances
- In traditional clothing and gifts
- In the diversity of participants
- In people from different communities coming together
- In conversations between people of different faiths
- In the shared hope for peace and justice
The festival demonstrated that peace does not mean everyone becoming the same.
Peace means diversity living together with dignity.
It means creating space for different voices, beliefs, cultures, and traditions while maintaining mutual respect.
Peace Is Something We Build
Looking back at the National Peace Festival 2026, one message stands out:
“Peace is not something we simply wait for. Peace is something we build.”
Peace begins with small actions — listening instead of judging, respecting instead of rejecting, helping instead of ignoring, and choosing dialogue instead of division.
The festival was therefore more than a one-day celebration in Lahore. It was a reminder that building peaceful communities is a shared responsibility.
A Message to Carry Forward
As the National Peace Festival came to an end, its message remained clear: peace must continue beyond the festival.
The colours of peace can return through our words, our decisions, our relationships, and our actions.
They return when communities come together.
They return when differences are respected.
They return when the dignity of every person is protected.
They return when young people become ambassadors of peace.
They return when people of different faiths choose dialogue over division.
And they return when justice, equality, and compassion become part of everyday life.
The NCJP National Peace Festival 2026 reminded everyone that peace is not merely something we celebrate once a year. It is something we must continue to build — together.
Perhaps that is the message we should carry with us from this day:
When the colours of peace return, let us make sure they stay.Peace, Dignity, and Hope.