“Pilgrimage of peace”

Leaders of 200 world religions flanked the Pope in Assisi on January 24, 2002 in an unprecedented "pilgri­mage of peace” in opposition to the use of violence in God’s name. Commitments to work for peace were received in 11 languages including Hebrew, Arabic, Farsi and Punjabi.

In response to the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York the Pope said: "Humanity is always in need for peace. We wish to do our part in fending off the dark clouds of terrorism, hatred, armed conflict, which in these last few months have grown particularly ominous in humanity’s horizon.”

The peace day began early with a colorful twist, when the various participants in their robes, beards, dog collars, skullcaps and turbans boarded a train at the Vatican’s private station bound for Assisi, where the 13th century Saint Francis, a warrior turned friar, who wrote the prayer beginning "Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace” is buried. On its way towards the Umbrian hill town, the train slowed at stations for crowds to greet the passengers.

On arrival, the Pope was ferried through Assisi’s crooked streets. As the religious representatives walked up the aisle to the large tent covering the square by the Franciscan monastic complex to greet him, an audience of several thousands clapped and cheered.

The Pope’s address followed various "testimonials to peace” given by key religious speakers. Later, after prayers and a "frugal” lunch in the monastery refectory, participants made a commitment that religion would never be used again as a pretext for war, con­flict or violence. The prayer sessions, which took place in the Franciscan complex, were the highlight of the event. Among those present was a delegation led by the Russian Patriarch Pitirim whose arrival was read as signalling a thaw in the frosty relations between the Vatican and the Russian Orthodox Church. As the Christians prayed together, groups representing other religions prayed in separate rooms and cells in the adjacent monastery. Later when the representatives met in the afternoon to give their commitment to oppose religion being used as an excuse for violence, the Pope, followed by other representatives, lit the candelabra. It will remain in Assisi as a testimony to their undertaking. All involved then exchanged wishes of peace with each other and the Pope.

FURHOK K. TANGREE

La Roche-sur-Foron, France