Sri Lanka to mark Prayer Day of Assisi

(Oct. 26, 2011) Sri Lanka will mark the Peace Day of Assisi on Thursday with reflection, dialogue and prayers for peace. The pilgrimage will be a commemoration of the first 25 years since the first Assisi Day, celebrated by Pope John Paul II and the world’s religious leaders on October 27, 1986. Anton Meemana, a Catholic professor at the Blessed Joseph Vaz Theologate in Colombo and Kelaniya University said "The spirit of Assisi is a spirit of truth, love, peace, freedom, justice and infinite humility. According to the professor, St. Francis of Assisi represents a "true model", because "every day challenges us to take the best of our traditions seriously and live it with intensity." Prof. Meemana said “Peace and truth are deeply linked together. The search for truth is the foundation of all attempts to build peace. According to the professor "a true Christian is a blessing and a challenge for all humanity, but never a burden or a disgrace. Non-Christians should not be afraid of true Christians, " he added. Meeman urged religious leaders to pay attention to the problem of persecution in the world, particularly against the Christian community: "He who kills a Christian, or any human being, dishonours his religion. Social justice must come from the heart. The spiritual awakening of Asia must renew the face of the world, burning people's hearts and rekindling the soul of humanity," he said.