Together for peace

ASSISI’S SKY was clouded over and drops of rain intermittently broke through the clouds, but within the heart of everyone present at the World Day of Prayer for Peace fixed by the pope, the sun was shining and the rain appeared to be a blessing from above. Joy was palpable: you could see it on the many different faces of the participants, in the tone of the voices in all languages, in the multi-coloured outfits, and in the rainbow of flags inscribed with the word ‘Peace’. On 24 January 2002 in Assisi, I felt as if I were experiencing the moment of Pentecost: everyone understood what was being said as the language spoken was the international language of love understood by everyone.
After the 11 September attacks, the pope wanted this day of prayer to greet representatives of all faiths, in particular, Edward Cardinal Egan, Archbishop of New York, who received an extended applause for both himself and his city. The pope didn’t forget though the other populations who have been harshly tested by war. This meeting wasn’t meant to be just a moment of intense religiosity, it was also intended to bind together all those who participated.

The request for forgiveness and the rejection of violence by all the religious present in Assisi is extremely positive. During the Jubilee, the pope asked for forgiveness in the name of the Catholic Church for the sins of its children. He did this in the hope that others would follow his example, but he was alone in this gesture. On 24 January, Pope Wojtyla’s forgiving behaviour became a model of behaviour for the representatives of over 5 billion people world-wide.

Over the course of the day, particular attention was paid to the conflict between Israel and Palestine: Rabbi Israel Singer declared, you must ask your people, and we must ask ours if a particular land or place is more important than people’s lives. Until we learn to ask ourselves these questions, there will not be peace. We have to learn to reconcile ourselves in the revolutionary manner taught to us by John Paul II. After listening to such declarations, the nuncio of Jerusalem, Monsignor Pietro Sambi said, Assisi fills us with hope. The worst form of poverty is the loss of hope, because it leads us to fold our arms and give room to the forces of hatred and war.
Many people questioned the value of this day asking critically: What’s the meaning of this? Will this ceremony actually lead to something positive? In the opinion of someone who witnessed it at first hand, in fact from within the Sacred Convent of Assisi, I believe that this day was full of meaning, demonstrating that actions speak louder than words.
I saw Christians of all denominations, from Baptists to American Episcopalians, from Catholics to Russian Orthodox who had never before attended such a meeting held by the pope, pray together before St. Francis’ tomb. They were all united together before St. Peter’s successor. This was a great prophetic sign: the union and love between Christians makes their common goal of recognising Christ as the Prince of Peace more credible.

The gesture of peace among the representatives of the various religions was even more moving and memorable; an embrace followed by a greeting and the exclamations of the crowd who made their joyful approval heard.
A final gesture has remained in my heart: the simple action of eating together. In fact, after praying, away from the cameras and journalists, the Franciscan Friars invited all the representatives of the various religions to eat together around the same table in the friary’s large refectory. It was like seeing the entire world, in all its richness and diversity seated at the Lord’s table in order to share bread and all the rest of God’s gifts, above all peace, with one another. The name of peace is the conviviality of differences, which means the reconciliation of the differences between people and the ability to create a single symphony of different but harmonious notes.
It saddened me to witness some absentees around the table: there were no representatives of the Taoist or Buddhist religion from China, nor was there a Cuban representative nor a member of Theravada Buddhism from Laos nor of Hinayana Buddhism from Myanmar. The political leaders of these countries do not see religion as a positive force in the service of peace and society, but as something to be restrained and controlled, if not completely eliminated. Attempting to get rid of religions however, as history has revealed, only leads to further violence. The pope on the other hand, and all the representatives of the various religions who welcomed his invitation, have shown the world that – at least for one day – it is possible to believe in the prophecy that people from all round the world can sit to feast at a single table.