Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Pope Benedict XVI sent a Message to Bishop Domenico Sorrentino of Assisi-Nocera-Umbra-Gualdo Tadino, Italy, for the 20th anniversary of the 1986 Inter-religious Meeting of Prayer for Peace, a commemoration of which is being held in Assisi September 4 and 5.
In the message the Holy Father said “To avoid any misunderstanding with regard to the meaning of what John Paul II achieved in 1986 and, to use his very words with regard ti what has been referred to as the "spirit of Assisi", it is important to remember the care taken at the time to ensure that the inter-religious Meeting to pray for peace did not lend itself to misinterpreted syncretistic interpretations, based on a relativistic concept. Precisely in view of this, at the very beginning of the meeting John Paul II said:
In his message the Holy Father greeted the representatives of other religions present at the meeting: “I am happy to have this opportunity to greet the members of other religions taking part in the event. As we Christians they to realise that in prayer it is possible to have a very special experience of God and to draw from it effective impulse to work for the cause of peace. However it is necessary also in this to avoid inopportune confusion. Therefore even when we find ourselves together to pray for peace, it is important that prayer take place according to those distinct paths particular to the various religions. This was the decision in 1986, and such a decision cannot but still be valid today. The convergence of opposites must not give the impression of a capitulation to the relativism that denies the very meaning of truth and the possibility of attaining it.”
Pope Benedict XVI recalled that the 1986 Meeting was followed by many initiatives which “each in its own way, highlighted the value of John Paul II’s intuition and reveal its relevance in the light of events in the past twenty years and the situation of humanity today”. The Message continues “to build peace cultural, political and economic paths are important. Nevertheless first of all peace is built in hearts. In the heart in fact are born sentiment which either nourish peace or threaten, weaken and suffocate it. What is more the human heart is the place where God intervenes. Besides the "horizontal" dimension of relations among persons, of fundamental importance in this matter is the ‘vertical’ dimension of each person’s relationship with God, from whom all things come”.
Towards the end of the message the Pope recalled that the little town Assisi was chosen to host the initiative because it is “universally known because of the figure of Saint Francis. Because of his special witness it became a natural point of reference for all who cultivate the ideal of peace, respect for nature, dialogue among peoples, religions and cultures. However so as not to betray the message of Francis it is important to remember that it was his radical decision to follow Christ that gave him the key to understanding the brotherhood to which all men and women are called and in which even inanimate creatures, “brother sun” and “sister moon” share in some way. I am happy therefore that this 20th anniversary of John Paul II’s prayer initiative for peace, there coincides also the eighth centenary of the conversion of Saint Francis. These two commemorations shed light on each other reciprocally. Christ's words to Francis from the Crucifix - "Go, Francesco, repair my house …" -, his option for radical poverty, his embrace to the leper which expressed his new ability to see and to love Christ in those who suffer, were the beginning of a human and Christian adventure which continues to attract so many men and women of our day making this modest little town the destination of countless pilgrims.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 4/9/2006 - Righe 51, parole 749)
