Today is the 28th anniversary of that October 27th 1986, when St. John Paul II promoted the World Day of Prayer for Peace in Assisi: an historical event, the Pope together with the leaders of the Christians Churches and the world religions. Pope's idea was simple and meaningful at the same time: gathering believers of all the religions of the world in the city of St. Francis, focusing on the prayer for peace, one beside the other.

On that occasion Pope St. John Paul II said: "The coming together of so many religious leaders to pray is in itself an invitation today to the world to become aware that there exists another dimension of peace and another way of promoting it which is not a result of negotiations, political compromises or economic bargainings." He strongly believed that prayer and the witness of the believers, whatever is their tradition, can do a lot fo peace in the world.

The Community of Sant’Egidio has continued living the spirit of the Assisi World Day of Prayer, proposed by John Paul II in 1986, by accepting the Pope’s final invitation of that historical meeting: “Let’s keep spreading the message of Peace and living the spirit of Assisi”, starting the International Meetings of Prayer for Peace

Since that moment, through a network of friendship between representatives of different faiths and cultures from more than 70 countries, the Community of Sant'Egidio has promoted a pilgrimage of peace, that has had several stages in various cities in Europe and in the world year after year.

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International Meetings of Prayer for Peace >>