At Trump-hosted ceremony, Bilawal stresses religion as unifying force
1. Bilawal recalls family tragedies, says loss strengthens faith in closing ceremony address
Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari Emphasizes Unity Through Faith at National Prayer Breakfast in Washington
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari underscored the importance of strengthening people-to-people ties between Pakistan and the United States, emphasizing that religion should serve as a unifying force rather than a tool for division.
Speaking to the media after attending the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, Bilawal described the event as an essential platform for fostering interfaith harmony. He noted that attendees from around the world gathered to celebrate faith and unity.
At the closing ceremony, Bilawal delivered a speech highlighting the power of faith in bringing people together. Reflecting on his personal faith journey, he stated:
"Everybody has their own faith journey, and for me, and for many people, faith has to do with loss. The more you lose, the stronger your faith."
He recounted the tragedies that shaped his life, including the assassination of his grandfather, former Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, and the deaths of his uncles, Shahnawaz and Mir Murtaza Bhutto. He also remembered the assassination of his mother, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, in 2007, just weeks before she was scheduled to speak at the National Prayer Breakfast in 2008.
Bilawal stressed that religion should be a force for unity, not division:
"As a man of faith and a politician, I want to say that religion is often used to divide us. But the great thing about faith, about God, about the Almighty, is that it is not a force that divides us—it is a force that unites us. Never let anyone tell you otherwise."
He also spoke about the universal message of Jesus, emphasizing that his teachings are integral to both Christianity and Islam:
"Jesus doesn’t just belong to Christians. I learned about Jesus from my mother, who taught me about him as he is in the Holy Quran and in Muslim teachings. Every single Muslim, no matter what you’re told, believes in Jesus."
During his visit, Bilawal met with several U.S. lawmakers, though he clarified that these meetings were conducted in a personal capacity, as he is no longer Pakistan’s foreign minister.
The National Prayer Breakfast, hosted by newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump, was attended by high-ranking dignitaries from across the globe, including Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. The event, held in Washington from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time, marked Bilawal’s first attendance at a ceremony hosted by Trump.
Expressing his gratitude, Bilawal said:
"I’m grateful to the National Prayer Breakfast, or rather, the International Prayer Breakfast, for giving us the opportunity to unite around our shared belief in Jesus."
