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As
in previous years, this site will follow events live, providing stills,
video, and textual coverage, enabling those separated by distance to
unite with the encounters and dialogues as they happen. Thus, there will be many
of us present here in Assisi on the evening of 5th September, to affirm
once more, forcibly, that peace, and peace alone, is the name of God.
In October of 1986 Pope John Paul II convoked
the World Day of Prayer for Peace of Assisi. It was an unprecedented
historical event, which saw gathered alongside the Holy Father
representatives of the world’s great religions – from the Dalai Lama to
the Archbishop of Canterbury. As we know, a process got underway there –
now in its twentieth year – which the Community of Sant’Egidio took
especially to its heart, engendering in turn the International Encounters
of Religions. The meetings have progressed, year by year, first across
Italy’s principle cities and then European capitals, representing an outstanding
opportunity for dialogue and the surmounting of cultural and religious
differences.
FOR A WORLD OF PEACE: RELIGIONS AND
CULTURES IN DIALOGUE, will be the central
theme of the International Meeting and the Day of Prayer for Peace being
promoted for the 4th and 5th September 2006 by the Community of
Sant’Egidio together with the Episcopal Conference of Umbria.
At a time marked by terrorism and war, as well
as by efforts towards dialogue and reconciliation, religion has assumed a
prominent role in public life and in conflicts of identity. Religions are
ever more exposed to the peril of becoming implements in the hands of
extremists.
Since Assisi, the
world’s great religions have been reasserting the centrality of dialogue
between differing cultures as the key to defusing confrontation. They
have worked to promote a trend of globalisation that is not merely
market-driven, but capable indeed of encapsulating the legitimate
aspirations of entire peoples and of humankind. At the same time
religions are probing their deepest questions, each from within the
bounds of their own traditions and in frank juxtaposition with those of
others, as well as with prominent witnesses from lay culture.
Twenty years on from the historic World Day of
Prayer for Peace convoked by John Paul II, and in the setting of Assisi’s
Lower Basilica, a universal message will arise from the many religious
leaders, united from many different parts of the world, gathering
together the fruits of these two days of collaborative search and praying
side by side.
Twelve panels, each working on an issue crucial
to our times, will offer a pool of valuable contributions. Their overall
aim will be the discovery of pathways, both practical and theoretical,
showing the way out of ideologies of confrontation: through a joint
undertaking – cleared of misunderstandings – to conduct us onto a broad
spiritual road of collaboration towards a “globalisation of the human
countenance”.
Among those present
will be: the Grand Rabbi Cohen of Haifa, Rabbis Toaff and Di Segni from
Rome, Ibrahim Ezzedine, Councillor to the Presidency of the United Arab
Emirates, the Secretary of the World Lutheran Council, Noko, the
President of the European Council of Churches, Jean-Arnold de Clermont,
Cardinals Paul Poupard, Stanislao Dziwisz, as well as representatives of
all the Christian confessions, both Eastern and Western. There will be a
strong presence from “border” regions such as Israel and the Middle East,
Pakistan, the Far East and the Mediterranean.
METHOD OF ACCREDITATION
The Community of Sant’Egidio has made available all necessary background
information to facilitate informed and well-researched reporting.
Journalists,
photographers, and radio-TV presenters who wish to follow the event must
make a request for accreditation from the Community of Sant’Egidio in
Rome before the 21st July 2006. Tel.+39.06.585661;
Fax +39.06.58566331; e-mail [email protected] Rinaldo Piazzoni (cell.
335.8381334), Paolo Ciani (cell. 338.7870605); Francesco Dante (cell. 339.3324274).
To be accredited one must send:
1) A headed fax, e-mail or letter with the request for accreditation,
signed by a director or senior manager.
2) A photocopy of the photos of those wishing to attend.
3) A photocopy of professional and personal documents.
4) The regular address for future communication (including an address for
any urgent communication).
The accreditation badge can be obtained directly in ASSISI on the morning
of September 3rd 2006 from the Press Room. The letter of accreditation, 2
photographs and professional and personal documents must be presented
before badges are assigned.
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