A visionary leader and philanthropist, His Highness Prince Karim al-Hussaini Aga Khan IV passed away peacefully in Lisbon on February 4, 2025. He leaves an unparalleled legacy of institutions around the world dedicated to advancing human development, including the founding of the Global Centre for Pluralism, in partnership with the Government of Canada.

His Late Highness’s recognition that pluralism is at the core of how we advance and succeed as societies is one of the most important contributions to our age. He articulated his commitment to pluralism throughout his lifetime and his words remind us of how central pluralism is to humanity. As His Late Highness remarked at the inauguration of the former Canadian War Museum as the headquarters of the Global Centre for Pluralism in 2017:

“Connection does not necessarily mean agreement. It does not mean that we want to eliminate our differences or erase our distinctions. Far from it. What it does mean is that we connect with one another in order to learn from one another and to build our future together.

Pluralism does not mean the elimination of difference but the embrace of difference. Genuine pluralism understands that diversity does not weaken a society; it strengthens it. In an ever shrinking, ever more diverse world, a genuine sense of pluralism is the indispensable foundation for human peace and progress. From the start, this is a vision that the Ismaili Imamat and the Government of Canada have deeply shared.”

His Late Highness’s words remind us that pluralist societies are not accidents of history; they require conscious choices. In that spirit, His Late Highness’s legacy inspires all of us to make these choices, to work toward pluralism and across differences in our communities, institutions and societies. It is the responsibility of all to carry that vision forward to honour his legacy.