Address of the President of CLIPSAS

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I address you at a moment when the world is experiencing a profound crisis of trust – between individuals, between nations, and even between the very principles upon which peaceful coexistence is built. The upcoming General Assembly of CLIPSAS in Sofia in May 2026 takes place not only in a city of great historical significance, but at a moment of historic importance. I extend my fraternal gratitude to the Grand Orient of Bulgaria for assuming the responsibility of hosting this forum of conscience and reason.

Today, war is once again presented as a political instrument, fear as a means of governance, and difference as a threat. Against this logic of division, liberal Freemasonry offers another vision of the world: a vision founded on freedom of conscience, universal human dignity, and the conviction that dialogue is stronger than violence, and that fraternity endures longer than any ideology of hatred.

CLIPSAS was founded on the understanding that brotherhood must transcend borders, cultures, and beliefs. Today, this conviction is more relevant than ever. When fear is used to divide societies, when intolerance is portrayed as strength and violence as necessity, liberal Freemasonry has a duty to speak clearly and with moral confidence. We affirm that diversity is a source of strength, that human rights are universal, and that there can be no lasting peace without justice.

Liberal Freemasonry is a school of civic virtue. Within our lodges, we learn to think critically, to disagree without destroying one another, and to seek the common good beyond national, cultural, and religious boundaries. In a world where politics increasingly loses its moral compass, it is our duty to remind society that without ethics there can be no lasting peace, and without fraternity there can be no true freedom.

The General Assembly in Sofia calls upon us to renew our commitment – to one another and to the world in which we live in. It invites us to strengthen cooperation among our obediences, to become more visible in the civic sphere, and to firmly uphold peace, democracy, and human dignity. From Sofia, let us reaffirm that liberal Freemasonry is a force for unity in a fragmented world.

Let us be clear: peace is not passive. It is built through constant effort, principled dialogue, and solidarity among peoples. Fraternity is not just a feeling – it is a responsibility. And freedom without responsibility cannot be sustainable.

I believe that together – Brothers and Sisters from all corners of the world – we can contribute to shaping a future in which cooperation prevails over conflict, reason overcomes fear, and humanity draws closer to the ideals we uphold. Let us build bridges where others raise walls. Let us insist that fraternity remain a guiding principle of human coexistence. Let us safeguard peace not as an abstract idea, but as a daily, conscious effort.

This is our choice. This is our responsibility. This is our Masonic duty.