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The Zoroastrian World
May 14, 2026Justice, Faith, and Asha: Zerbanoo and Richard Gifford Meet Pope Leo XIV
A historic Vatican audience honours decades of work for the Chagossian people and celebrates Zoroastrian values of truth and justice.
For Richard and Zerbanoo Gifford of Newnham on Severn, a recent visit to the Vatican was more than a moment of recognition—it was the culmination of decades of work, faith, and service. Invited by Pope Leo XIV to a special audience, the couple stood alongside leaders of the Chagos Refugee Group, a community whose struggle has defined much of Richard’s legal career and Zerbanoo’s humanitarian mission.
For over thirty years, Richard has represented the Chagossians, a people wrongfully displaced from their island home in the Indian Ocean by the British Government in the 1960s. His determined advocacy has brought their story before the world, securing international recognition of their right to return to their homeland. In the Pope’s private chambers, Richard spoke about this long legal battle, and in return, received the Pontiff’s heartfelt blessing for his perseverance and courage in the pursuit of justice.
Zerbanoo, herself a pioneering activist and founder of the ASHA Centre in the Forest of Dean, brought a uniquely Zoroastrian offering to the Vatican: a treasured copy of the Avesta, the sacred text of her faith, and her own book Z to A of Zoroastrianism, now gifted to the Vatican Library. She also presented a peace education manual from ASHA, created for the European Union, symbolising her life’s work in fostering dialogue, peace, and understanding among young people.
The Pope was visibly moved by her book on Thomas Clarkson and the campaign against the slave trade, a subject close to his heart, given his concern for those living in poverty and modern slavery. Zerbanoo shared with him ASHA’s ongoing efforts to bring together young leaders of all faiths. This November, ASHA will host an interfaith programme culminating in a keynote address by Interfaith Minister Lord Khan in the presence of the Bishop of Gloucester, Rachel Treweek and leaders of all the major faith communities in Britain. In another milestone, ASHA will soon serve as the UK’s official representation office for the Chagos Refugees Group of Mauritius.
Beyond the solemn meeting, Zerbanoo also experienced a rare spiritual journey—walking through the four Holy Doors of Rome’s major basilicas, sacred portals ritually opened only during Jubilee Years. Passing through the doors of St. Peter’s, St. John Lateran, St. Paul Outside the Walls, and St. Mary Major symbolised a pilgrimage from struggle toward renewal, forgiveness, and divine grace.
For Richard and Zerbanoo, this visit was not only an honour but also a deeply symbolic affirmation of their life’s work—standing for justice, building peace, and carrying the spirit of their Zoroastrian heritage into the heart of the Catholic Church.
A Reflection in the Spirit of Asha
In Zoroastrianism, asha—truth, righteousness, and justice—is the guiding principle of life. Richard’s decades-long legal battle for the Chagossians and Zerbanoo’s tireless efforts to foster peace and interfaith understanding embody this eternal value. Their meeting with Pope Leo XIV serves as a reminder that the pursuit of justice is a sacred calling, transcending nations and faiths. In walking through the Holy Doors of Rome and in presenting the Avesta at the Vatican, the Giffords carried with them not only their personal devotion but also the enduring Zoroastrian conviction that truth and justice must always triumph.
