L’arcivescovo John Dew di Wellington

We are in New Zealand, in the heart of Wellington, capital of a land that has opened its arms to many peoples. Urged by the news of wars in Iraq, Gaza, Ukraine and Central Africa; the growing fear of Ebola; and the Pope’s many appeals for peace, some young people from the Focolare Movement in New Zealand felt the need to gather in a public place and voice their longing for peace.

The Archbishop of Wellington, Most Rev. John Dew, contributed personally to the evening event, which included songs, prayers and testimonies. There was also a witness offered by  two young women from Iraq who had met in New Zealand and were followed by their families to that land: Sendirella, a Catholic, and Ayssar, a Muslim. They spoke about what had united them in their homeland. They had first met at the home of a common friend and from there a friendship began that led them to share their dreams, studies and travel. Sendirella said “we’re different,” but Aysser quickly added, “but we are the same.” They said that for many people religion is the great difference, perhaps even the great obstacle, but it was never a problem for them; on the contrary, it drew them closer. “In the religion of one,” said Sendrella, “we’ve always recognised elements of the religion of the other.”

Sendirella e Ayssar

Then, they talked about their country. Today’s Iraq is associated with war, fleeing minorities and torture, but the Iraq of their parents was one where your neighbour could be a Christian, Muslim, Jew or Yazidi; “an Iraq,” Ayssar said, “where the difference of religion was always accepted as a fact, not a problem.” Now that Iraq seems so far away. “They’ve told us that peace is impossible,” Sendirella continued: “But we know that peace is not merely a word in a constitution, it’s not some particular form of government, nor air-raids meant to enforce peace. We know that that peace lies in the daily observance of our values, that it’s something that comes from the bottom up, rather than from the top down.”

A young university student called Kathleen told how she felt urged to ask forgiveness following a misunderstanding among the students with whom she shared a flat. Before, that would have been a very difficult and demanding thing for her to do, but as it turned out, it opened the door to a new and better relationship with the other girls.

The evening prayer concluded with an invitation to become builders of peace, sealing that commitment with the knotting of a white ribbon to a small Kowhai tree. This tree with a Maori name originated in New Zealand. It has many medicinal qualities and several species of birds are nourished by its rich nectar. With delicate branches the Kowhai is a strong tree that can reach heights of 20 metres. It was a perfect symbol of the humble but powerful cry for peace that went forth from those young people on that night of prayer.