quinta-feira, 27 de outubro de 2011

Violence never again, war never again , terrorism never again

 
Pope benedict XVI (L) walks next to his secretary Georg Gaeswein before delivering a speech during the interreligious talks on October 27, 2011 in Santa Maria degli Angeli's basilica (St Mary of the Angels) in Assisi. Pope Benedict XVI will lead during the day the 25th Interreligious talks, a 'journey of reflection, dialogue and prayer for peace and justice in the world' held in St. Francis of Assisi's birthplace, with four leading atheist intellectuals taking part for the first time.

Pope Benedict XVI together with 300 delegates of other religions, as well as people of no religion at all concluded a day long visit to Assisi on Thursday 27th October to renew commitment to peace. Philippa Hitchen reports:

The ceremony began with lively music and dancing by young men and women from the Focolare movement, performing choreographies to symbolise their search for peace, while the Pope and the other religious leaders sat watching on the stage or filling the square below the lower basilica.
One by one, Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Sikh, Baptist, Muslim, Taoist, Buddhist, Shinto, Jewish, Reformed and non-believers stepped up to the microphone. They spoke of their hopes and dreams for peace and justice, for security and freedom, for solidarity and dialogue as the only way  ...»