Prayers for Peace Can They Stop Terrorism?

"Violence never again! War never again!  Terrorism never again! In the name of God, may every religion bring upon the earth justice and peace, forgiveness and life, love! -Pope John Paul II. 


Religions at Assisi in Search of Peace

ASSISI, ITALY, January 24, 2002-Representatives of the world's organized religions were gathered  to pray for peace, a peace threatened by terrorism, intolerance, and injustice.  The meeting was announced by the pope some two months after the collapse of the Twin Towers in New York City.  Many religious leaders accepted the Vatican's invitation with enthusiasm.  

On two earlier occasions-once in 1986 and again in 1993-the pope had called for a day of prayer in that same Italian town.  More than a thousand journalists from all over the world came to monitor the 2002 meeting. Many religions were represented in prayers  for peace-those of Christendom (Catholics, Lutherans, Anglican, Orthodox, Methodists, Baptists, Pentecostals, Mennonites, Quakers, and others), Islam, Hinduism, Confucianism, Sikhism, Jainism, Tenriko, Buddhism, Judaism, traditional African religions, Shinto, and Zoroastrian ism. Delegations from other religions, as well as representatives of the World Council of Churches, were also present.

Next time: Prayers for Peace Can They Stop Terrorism? - Declarations in Favor of Peace

From the Awake! magazine, 2002