Assisi hosts interreligious meeting to mark 40 years of peace prayer

Religious leaders gathered in Assisi, Italy, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the “Spirit of Assisi,” an initiative launched by Pope John Paul II in 1986. The meeting brought together diverse faith representatives to pray for global peace and engage in interreligious dialogue.

Approximately 5,000 participants attended various thematic forums throughout the city. Key discussions included the role of dialogue in the Mediterranean region and the responsibility of believers to promote peace rather than incite conflict. Notable attendees included Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, who emphasized that the Church must proclaim peace alongside the Resurrection, and Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally.

The event highlighted the enduring legacy of the 1986 gathering, noting how the spirit of Assisi has influenced peace processes and coexistence in various global contexts, such as in Lahore, Pakistan.