Pope Francis to participate in international Prayer Meeting for Peace

By Vatican News staff writer

On Tuesday, 20 October, Pope Francis will participate in an international Prayer for Peace initiative entitled "No One Is Saved Alone – Peace and Fraternity".

Promoted by the Rome-based Community of Saint Egidio, the Prayer meeting is an ecumenical event and will see the participation of representatives of many Christian denominations in the Basilica of Saint Mary in Aracoeli on Rome’s Capitoline Hill.

According to a statement released by the Sant'Egidio community, the Prayer meeting will be followed by an interreligious ceremony in Michelangelo’s Square on the Capitoline Hill in the presence of representatives of the world’s great religions and other world leaders.

In the spirit of Assisi

The Community of Saint Egidio, that is preparing to host its 34th meeting inspired by the historic interreligious encounter wanted by St. John Paul II in 1986, said it has promoted this International Meeting of Prayer for Peace in the spirit of Assisi and Pope Francis’ encyclical Fratelli tutti. 

The event, which will take place in respect of the anti-covid norms will be live-streamed in 8 languages through the Community’s various web and social media channels. 

Quoting from Pope Francis’ third encyclical letter, Fratelli tutti, a Saint Egidio communiqué says "The different religions, based on their respect for each human person as a creature called to be a child of God, contribute significantly to building fraternity and defending justice in society".

"In a difficult moment in history", the communiqué continues, "because of the pandemic but also because of old and new wars in progress - such as the one that has lasted for ten years in Syria or the current one in Nagorno-Karabakh, a solemn moment of reflection, prayer and encounter will be offered to the world from the heart of Europe: a message of hope for the future in the name of the greatest good, which is that of Peace".

Everyone is invited to participate in the online event.

A minute of silence for the victims of war and the pandemic

So, on Tuesday afternoon the religious leaders will pray separately in venues across the city: Pope Francis the Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, and other Orthodox and Protestant representatives in the Basilica of Saint Mary in Aracoeli; Jews in the Synagogue of Rome; Muslims, Buddhists and representatives of other Eastern religions in the Capitoline Museums.

The interreligious ceremony in the Capitoline foresees the participation of many international names such as Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and President Sergio Mattarella of Italy. A minute of silence in memory of the victims of the pandemic and all wars will conclude the event.