Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - “Men and women of different religions came together to show they would not be dominated by fear. This did not mean kind thoughts, abstract ideas, detachment from reality. It was a looking reality in the face, as it is, even with its evil, the poverty of so many people, and the unfurling of obscure plans for violence. We tried to look on reality with compassion. We did not feel we were prisoners of fear, petrified by pessimism, closed in a negative attitude which rejects most of the world, that is demonisation, and hopes in the only protection of safe frontiers.
We looked at reality in the light of the faith. The faith of people who have quenched their thirst at the ancient wells of religions. These wells so diverse, are the source for many who are thirsting for hope, oppressed by grief, searching for peace and a better future. These wells are a precious resource for people who know that the reality of life goes far beyond the modest limits we would give it. Faith gave rise to deep hope, manifested in this evening’s appeal shared and supported by many people and which comes from the heart of Milan: an appeal for peace.
These are not words in the wind! They come from the heart and they matured in prayer and in confrontation with the wisdom of diverse religious traditions, they are often proven in the crucible of suffering.
The word “peace” comes from the heart of this prayer: it was something we wished each other, drawing it from the precious treasure of religions it becomes an invocation to the One who beyond us all; it is an appeal to all who believe in violence who wage war and spread terror in the name off God, or who destroy human life in the name of their own blind interests. The word “peace” is distilled from religious wisdom, many prayers of believers, hopes of men and women.
Is it a dream? It is just a word? It is just one more case of ingenuity? We think not because peace is a gift of God more than the result of efforts of individuals and peoples. Peace is the greatest concrete aspiration of millions of men and women.
The meeting of people of different religions strengthened the path of dialogue. Coming together from so many different places, not all in agreement, different in identity and history, was a demonstration of the civilisation of living together, co-existence of which our world has such need, that civilisation which religious traditions freely interweaving can build and support.
Our path of dialogue continues, it has not stopped. It does not fear explosions of violence or terrorism. It is not intimidated by prophets of war. The lacerated humanity of our world needs the patience of dialogue and meeting.. Milan has been an important lap, a promise for other meetings in other parts of the world. We have an appointment in Lyons in France in a year’s time… We do this to manifest our intention to continue are dialogue . Because we are aware that it is easier to wage war than to build peace: and an encounter of believers forms an important network to help our broken world realise that we are all part of one destiny. Thus the message of peace which emerges from these days of meeting in its simplicity is a precious distillation of so much suffering, so much hoping”.(Andrea Riccardi) (Agenzia Fides 10/9/2004 - Righe 41; Parole 597)
