Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Assisi (Agenzia Fides) - In October 1986 Pope John Paul II convoked a World Day of Prayer for Peace in Assisi, an unprecedented history-making event which brought representatives of all the world’s great religions to pray with the Pope. That was the start of a journey, now twenty years old, endorsed in a special way by the Rome based S. Egidio Community which then launched a series of annual International Meetings of People and Religions in various cities of Italy and Europe. “For a World of Peace- Religions and Cultures in Dialogue”, will be the central theme of the next International Meeting and Day of Prayer for Peace in Assisi 4 and 5 September 2006 organised by S. Egidio and the Catholic Bishops of the Umbria region of Italy.
In our times marked by terrorism and wars, but also efforts for dialogue and reconciliation, religions have assumed an important role in the public space and in identity comparison, and are ever more subject to exploitation by extremists. From Assisi the great world religions will say once again that dialogue among cultures is the key to emptying the clash of civilisations and fostering development and globalisation not only market inspired but which focus on the legitimate aspirations of individuals and peoples. They will also engage in reflection, each in his or her own tradition, on the most profound religious questions, and frank common discussion among themselves and with personalities of the secular culture.
Participants will include Chief Rabbi Cohen from Haifa, Rabbis Toaff and Di Segni from Rome, Ibrahim Ezzedine advisor to the presidency of United Arab Emirates, secretary of the World Lutheran Federation Noko, the president of the Council of European Churches Jean-Arnold de Clermont, Patriarch Armeno Karekine II Catholicos of Cilicia, Cardinal Paul Poupard and Cardinal Stanislao Dziwisz, representatives of Christian confessions of East and West. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 13/7/2006 - Righe 22, parole 317)
