Assisi (Italy) is a city of peace.Eight hundred years after the death of St Francis, it still retains the charm of its narrow streets and its layout, so much so that you almost expect the “Poverello” to appear around the corner.His presence, his outpouring of love for the poor and for his neighbour, for those who are different, is so strong that it makes this Umbrian city a centre of vibrant spirituality.

Three days bathed in a gentle autumn sun transformed Assisi into the capital of interreligious dialogue, united in prayer for peace. As early as Sunday 25th, it was already possible to hear countless languages and see the diversity of colours and clothes worn by the representatives of the religions who had arrived for these days. 5,000 people attended the various thematic forums held in different venues around the city.

Margaret Karram and Roberto Almada, President and Co-President of the Focolare Movement, together with a delegation, took part in the days of this Meeting, which celebrated the 40th anniversary of Interreligious Prayer in the Spirit of Assisi, initiated by John Paul II.

On 26th October, Margaret spoke at the “Mediterranean: Sea of Dialogue” Forum. “St Francis did not accept the view that talking to those who were seen as enemies meant betraying one’s own side,” she commented. “Today, ‘dialogue’ may seem like a fragile term, but it is precisely when it seems impossible that it becomes even more necessary to communicate the good that already exists.”

On the morning of 27th October, in the Sala Cimabue at Colle del Paradiso, where the Franciscan Basilica complex is located, the Forum with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople was the focus of the participants’ attention. “The Church that proclaims the Resurrection must at the same time proclaim peace,” said Bartholomew I. This reflection was also confirmed by the presence, of numerous representatives of the Christian Churches, in the audience, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, the Patriarch of the Assyrian Church, Mar Awa III, the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, Sahak II, the Bishop of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino and Foligno, Felice Accrocca, and the Metropolitan of Chalcedon, Emmanuel, together with the President of the Focolare Movement, Margaret Karram. It was a large, significant presence, which restored the very meaning of the encounter: different Churches and traditions coming together to recognise each other as brothers and sisters and to bear witness to the possibility of dialogue.

Then, in the afternoon, there were moving moments of prayer for peace in the presence of numerous leaders from various religions, and the closing ceremony held in the square of the Lower Basilica: “There is no holy war, only peace is holy”, said Pope Leo XIV in a video message sent for the occasion. As the sun set peacefully, the lighting of the torches gave everyone present the certainty that peace is indeed possible.

Text and photos by Carlos Mana