Washington, D.C. — On Thursday, January 22, 2026, hundreds of faith leaders, elected officials, diplomats, and global influencers from across the United States and around the world gathered at the U.S. Capitol for the International Interfaith Conference, titled “United in Liberty: The Rise of Spiritual Diplomats,” a landmark convening focused on restoring moral leadership, protecting religious freedom, and building unity across faiths and nations.

The conference, held in the historic Caucus Room of the Cannon House Office Building, opened with remarks by President Donald J. Trump, who underscored the importance of faith-based leaders coming together at this critical moment in history. The President highlighted his longstanding fight to protect faith-based groups, religious liberty, and the right of people of faith to participate freely and boldly in public life, emphasizing that faith remains a cornerstone of a strong and moral nation.

The conference was convened under the leadership of Pastor Mark Burns, the President’s longtime spiritual advisor and Chairman of the Spiritual Diplomats initiative. Bringing together representatives of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, indigenous traditions, and global civil society, the gathering underscored the growing urgency for faith-based leadership to move beyond dialogue and into action.

A central voice of the conference was Rabbi Duvi Honig, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce, who delivered a keynote address emphasizing the role of commerce as a practical and values-driven bridge between faiths, cultures, and communities. Honig spoke about the responsibility of faith leaders not only to inspire, but to create real-world pathways for cooperation that strengthen families, empower communities, and foster peace.

“Faith must be the anchor of society,” Honig said in his remarks. “When values lead, commerce becomes one of the strongest bridges we have—bringing people together across religions, cultures, and borders, and turning shared belief into shared responsibility.”

Honig’s address was met with a standing ovation, as leaders from across the religious and political spectrum echoed the call for unity rooted in moral clarity and tangible collaboration. Many attendees described the message as timely and essential amid rising global polarization and growing threats to religious liberty.

A solemn and powerful moment of the conference was a moment of silence held in honor of the victims of the October 7th terrorist attacks, led by Dr. Michael Jenkins, President of the Universal Peace Federation USA and Chairman of The Washington Times Holdings. The moment underscored the conference’s commitment to human dignity, remembrance, and standing united against terror and hatred.

Among the distinguished speakers and participants were members of the United States Congress, including Congressman Mark Harris of North Carolina, Congressman Gus M. Bilirakis of Florida, and Congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina, alongside international parliamentarians, governors, ambassadors, and senior media and civic leaders. The conference also featured remarks from Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar, former Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel and Jerusalem, whose presence underscored the deep connection between faith, tradition, and moral leadership on the global stage.

Additional voices included Matt Schlapp, Chairman of the American Conservative Union; Janice Trey, Board Chair of The Epoch Times and NTD TV; senior Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and indigenous leaders; and high-ranking diplomatic representatives from Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

Reflecting on the mission of the gathering, Pastor Mark Burns emphasized the responsibility of faith leaders to lead with courage and unity. “This conference is about more than discussion,” Pastor Burns said. “It is about spiritual diplomats standing together, rising above division, and leading with faith, moral clarity, and action to protect freedom and bring hope to the world.”

Throughout the conference, discussions centered on shared values across faiths, the responsibility of religious leaders to model unity in a divided world, and the urgent need to defend freedom of religion as a foundational human right. Speakers addressed the protection of children, living with dignity and freedom, justice, peace, and the right to worship without fear, emphasizing that faith-based leadership must engage proactively with legal, economic, and diplomatic tools to safeguard these principles.

Presenting Pastor Mark Burns with Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce Leadership Through Faith Award

At the conclusion of the conference, the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce formally presented Pastor Mark Burns with its Leadership Through Faith Award, recognizing his unwavering commitment to spiritual leadership, interfaith unity, and principled moral guidance at the national and global levels.

Participants described the gathering as a rare and powerful moment of alignment at the seat of American democracy. The conference concluded with a shared commitment to carry forward the mission of spiritual diplomacy—calling on faith leaders, policymakers, and institutions to translate shared beliefs into concrete action, strengthen moral foundations, and build enduring bridges of unity for future generations.

Yusuf Khaled Third Secretary Embassy of Kingdom of Bahrain

Together With Michael Jenkins President of The Washington Times

George Nicolae SIMION chairman of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), the second largest party in both houses of parliament since 2024

[Press Release]