There were 480 people present from 40 countries, speaking 12 languages. A group of people from different faiths travelled from GB to participate in the conference.
In the city of peace, the prayer for fraternity, justice and reconciliation for all peoples in conflict resounded as a solemn pact with each one, according to their own faith.
The gathering at Assisi was the culmination of a 5 day conference which began on 31st May in Rome.
Participants were drawn from Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Baha’I and traditional African religious traditions – religious leaders as well as lay people of all generations.
Meeting, listening, taking steps of reconciliation, and sharing the pain of peoples were characteristic of this conference that alternated between panel discussions led by experts and dialogue groups among the participants. Politics and international diplomacy, economics, artificial intelligence and the environment were discussed, all from the perspective of peace. Academics and experts from many cultures, religions and backgrounds addressed the conference.
There were also many rich sessions dedicated to personal testimonies, projects, actions focused on collaboration between people and communities belonging to different religious faiths, for peace and in support of the needs of their respective peoples.
Margaret Karram, President of the Focolare Movement, commented:
‘We (also) feel the responsibility to do much more for peace. This is why we want to work to strengthen and spread the culture of dialogue and of “care” for people and for creation… In such terribly dark times like these, humanity needs a common space to make hope tangible.’
Full article with photo gallery can be found HERE
