VATICAN CITY, 28 OCT 2011 (VIS) - Shortly before 4
p.m. yesterday, the Holy Father and the heads of delegation left the convent of
Santa Maria degli Angeli in Assisi, and walked in procession across the square
in front of the building. They then boarded minibuses which took them to Piazza
San Francesco for the closing event of the Day of reflection, dialogue and
prayer for peace and justice in the world.
The ceremony began with some remarks from
Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for
Inter-religious Dialogue. He affirmed that the hope for peace had been revived
by the Assisi meeting and exhorted everyone to be witnesses and messengers of
peace. The other participants, speaking in turn, then solemnly renewed their
own commitment to peace: His Holiness Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of
Constantinople, was followed by representatives of the World Lutheran Council,
Sikhism, the Patriarchate of Moscow, the Baptist World Alliance, Islam, the
Syro-Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch, Taoism, Buddhism, Shintoism, the
International Jewish Committee on Inter-religious Consultations, the World
Communion of Reformed Churches, and non-believers.
Benedict XVI then pronounced the words:
"Violence never again! War never again! Terrorism never again! In the name
of God, may every religion bring upon the earth Justice and Peace, Forgiveness
and Life, Love".
Following a few moments of silence, a group of
young people gave lighted lamps to the heads of delegation and to others
present in the square; the flames of the lamps flickering in the wind were
intended to represent peace, which has to be protected and conserved. Cardinal
Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity,
then invited participants to exchange a sign of peace in order to seal the
commitment they had just pronounced.
Following the exchange of the sign of peace the
Pope concluded by thanking the organisers of the Assisi meeting. He also made
specific mention of "the many young people who have made the pilgrimage to
Santa Maria degli Angeli on foot, proof of the fact that many members of the
new generations are committed to overcoming violence and discord, and to
promoting justice and peace".
"Today's event is an image of how the
spiritual dimension is a key element in the building of peace. Through this
unique pilgrimage we have been able to engage in fraternal dialogue, to deepen
our friendship, and to come together in silence and prayer. After renewing our
commitment to peace and exchanging with one another a sign of peace, we feel
even more profoundly involved, together with all the men and women from the
communities that we represent, in our common human journey. We are not being
separated; we will continue to meet, we will continue to be united in this
journey, in dialogue, in the daily building of peace and in our commitment to a
better world, a world in which every man and woman, and every people, can live
in accordance with their own legitimate aspirations. From my heart I thank all
of you here present for having accepted my invitation to come to Assisi as
pilgrims of truth and peace and I greet each one of you in St. Francis' own
words: May the Lord grant you peace.
During the closing hymn the Pope and the delegations
descended from the podium and entered the lower basilica of St. Francis where
they remained in silence over the saint's tomb. The Pontiff then greeted the
Franciscan community and, accompanied by the heads of delegation, travelled by
minibus to the railway station of Assisi where he boarded a train for his
return to the Vatican.
PV-ITALY/
VIS 20111028 (610)
VATICAN CITY, 28 OCT 2011 (VIS) - This morning in the
Vatican, the Holy Father received representatives of various religions, and of
non-believers, who yesterday participated in the Day of reflection, dialogue
and prayer for peace and justice in the world, celebrated in the Italian town
of Assisi under the theme: "Pilgrims of Truth, Pilgrims of Peace".
Addressing the group in English he thanked them
for having taken part in yesterday's event. "In a certain sense", he
said, "this gathering is representative of the billions of men and women
throughout our world who are actively engaged in promoting justice and peace.
It is also a sign of the friendship and fraternity which has flourished as the
fruit of the efforts of so many pioneers in this kind of dialogue. May this
friendship continue to grow among all the followers of the world's religions
and with men and women of good will everywhere".
"Looking back, we can appreciate the
foresight of the late Pope John Paul II in convening the first Assisi meeting.
... Meetings of this sort are necessarily exceptional and infrequent, yet they
are a vivid expression of the fact that every day, throughout our world, people
of different religious traditions live and work together in harmony. It is
surely significant for the cause of peace that so many men and women, inspired
by their deepest convictions, are committed to working for the good of the
human family.
"In this way", Benedict XVI added,
"I am sure that yesterday's meeting has given us a sense of how genuine is
our desire to contribute to the good of all our fellow human beings and how
much we have to share with one another.
"As we go our separate ways, let us draw
strength from this experience and, wherever we may be, let us continue
refreshed on the journey that leads to truth, the pilgrimage that leads to
peace. I thank all of you from my heart".
AC/
VIS 20111028 (340)
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