Community of Sant'Egidio                                                                  Georgetown University
 Archdiocese of Washington                                           The Catholic University of America

Religion and Cultures: the Courage of Dialogue

International Prayer for Peace
Georgetown University, Washington D.C. 
26 - 27 april 2006

"Let us continue to spread the message of peace. Let us continue to live the spirit of Assisi."

With these words, spoken in October of 1986, Pope John Paul II concluded the World Day of Prayer for Peace in Assisi.
It was a historical event, which saw representatives of the great world religions standing side-by-side with the Pope, united in their appeal for peace.

That was the starting point of a now twenty-year-old journey, which the Community of Sant�Egidio has undertaken with special commitment, and which has engendered the International Encounters of Peoples and Religions. Year after year, principle cities of Italy and European capitals have welcomed this pilgrimage of men and women from diverse faiths, seekers after peace.

This year, marking the twentieth anniversary of the Day of Prayer for Peace at Assisi, the Global Encounter of Religions for Peace is holding its first meeting in the United States.

The Meeting, which has as its theme �Religions and Culture: Courage to Dialog�, is organised by the Community of Sant'Egidio in conjunction with Georgetown University and the Archdiocese of Boston, and will take place on 26^th and 27^th April 2006 in Washington D.C.

In the course of the Meeting, several prominent witnesses and representatives of the world�s great religions will meet in order to address issues together. Encounters that might contribute to the promotion of dialogue, and to a �globalization of the face of humankind�.