Poster for 25th anniversary of World Day of Prayer for Peace convoked by John Paul II in 1986
The day before, Pope Benedict presided and preached at a Liturgy of the Word prayer service in the audience hall in preparation for the Assisi encounter
Theme of the service: "Pilgrimage of Truth, Pilgrimage of Peace"
As the pope files out, photo op!
I traveled to Assisi with a Christian, Muslim, Jewish group of student-residents at the Lay Center in Rome from 18 different countries
The town of Assisi on the hilltop
The Franciscan monastery and Basilica of St. Francis
The morning portion of the Assisi gathering took place at the Basilica of St Mary of the Angels which sits at the bottom of hill on which the town is located
Ceiling fresco in the church
L to R: Donna Orsuto, director of Lay Center; a muslim student; TR; Marian Diaz, wife of the U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican
In front of the church outside, Pope Benedict greeted the representatives of the world's religions as they filed into the church
Inside the church, the religious delegates sat in front of the Portiuncula, the broken down chapel which St Francis rebuilt over which the present, larger church was constructed.
Program for the day's events
Delegates from the various churches and religions
L to R: Dr. Olav Tveit, World Council of Churches; Archbp Norvan Zakarian, Armenian Apostolic Church; Dr. Rowan Williams, Archbp of Canterbury; Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Eastern Orthodox Christians
Ten representatives of the world's religions gave a "Testimony for Peace", each one speaking 5-7 min
At far right, Dr. Mel Robeck, (American) co-chairman of the international Catholic-Pentecostal Dialogue
Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams
Prof. Wande Abimbola, spokesperson for the Ifa and Yoruba (African) Religion
Buddhist delegates
Acharya Shri Shrivatsa Goswami, Hindu
Venerable Ja-Seung, President of the Jogye Order, Korean Buddhism
Prof Julia Kristeva from Bulgaria, Humanist representative
Pope Benedict brings the morning program to a close with his address
After, delegates departed for a simple lunch and a time of prayer and meditation in ascribed rooms of the Convent of the Portiuncula
For others, the hike uphill into the town
Other pilgrims walked through Assisi, visiting other churches along the way to the Basilica of St. Francis on the other end of town where afternoon events would take place
The Church of St Clare, Francis' disciple and friend, who founded an order for women
Burial place of St Clare in the church crypt
A painting of Clare, depicting various scenes in her life
In the chapel hangs the cross from which Francis heard Jesus speaking to him
Pilgrims' walk through the picturesque town
This church is built over the site of Francis' family home where he grew up
Some members of our group taking a time of quiet prayer, while our Muslim friends offered their daily prayers in a space at back of the church
Square in the middle of town
The tower of the Basilica of St. Francis
The Basilica of St. Francis
The afternoon events took place in the the Piazza San Francesco
Young adult singers and dancers from the Focolare Movement's Gen Rosso and Gen Verde performance troupes warm up the crowd as they await the arrival of the delegates
Focolare group's song and dance
Delegates arrive
On Pope Benedict's right, the archbishop of Canterbury, and on his left, the ecumenical patriarch
Delegates filing into the piazza
Good energy in the crowd of pilgrims
The crowd in the piazza
Delegates seated on stage in the piazza
13 representatives of difference religions make a solemn renewal of their commitment to peace.
Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, opens the afternoon program
The Ecumenical Patriach Bartholomew: "We will work tirelessly in the great enterprise of building peace"
Franciscan monks of the monastery line the stairs
"It is a case of taking a decisive stand for human dignity . . . against every form of destructive force."
Some young people give lighted candles to the heads of delegations
The lit candles, representing the commitment to peace, are carried into the crowd
Participants in the piazza light their candles and exchange a sign of peace with one another
"In our common engagement, all our lights together will more effectively dispel the darkness of war and violence"
Some white doves are released and fly into the air
At the end of the commitments to peace, Pope Benedict takes the mic and shares some concluding remarks
Pope Benedict thanks everyone for coming from far and near: "In the name of God, may every religion bring upon the earth Justice and Peace, Forgiveness,Life and Love."
During final hymn, delegates descend platform and . . .
. . . head into the lower Basilica for a silent visit to the tomb of St. Francis
Delegates head head back to the railway station for the return trip to Rome
Arrividerci!
The crowd disperses
Our group of pilgrims bids farewell to Assisi by the light of the setting sun
