Assisi: Religions Journeying Towards Justice and Peace

(October 19, 2011) Raj Mohan Gandhi, the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, the spiritual head of the Anglican Church Archbishop Rowan Williams, Acharya Shri Shrivatsa Goswami, representing the Hindu religion, will be participating in the October 27^th Assisi meet. There will be five Hindus, three Jains, five Sikhs, and a Yoruba, a delegation from Israel's rabbinate authority, a Bahai, a Zoroastrian, participating in the Symposium. The Dalai Lama is sending an envoy and Russia's Orthodox Church is sending a representative from Kazakhstan. For the first time, a Buddhist from mainland China is coming for the meet. Some 48 Muslims are expected to participate. The 300-plus delegates representing dozens of faiths and even four people who profess no faith will travel together with Pope Benedict XVI aboard a train leaving from the Vatican's train station and will sit together for speeches in Assisi's St. Mary of the Angels basilica. This event marks the 25th anniversary of the first such interreligious prayer for peace, which was promoted by Pope John Paul II and held in the town known for its native son St. Francis. It is the "Day of reflection, dialogue and prayer for peace and justice in the world: Pilgrims of Truth, Pilgrims of Peace". The pope will give two main talks in Assisi -- at the beginning and end of the day -- and the program calls for talks by several of the non-Catholic participants as well. But as with many of Pope Benedict's events, there will also be several moments of silence. Following a simple meal in the style of St. Francis, the participants will gather at the lighting of lamps at sunset and in individual prayers before St. Francis' tomb. More than fifty nations will be represented in Assisi.