VATICAN CITY, NOV. 18, 2001 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II´s announcement of a Day of Prayer for Peace, to be held next Jan. 24, recalls a similar event in 1986 that gathered the world´s religious leaders — and raised a few eyebrows in the Church.
In January 1986 the Pope surprised the world by announcing the first summit of religious leaders, to be held in Assisi, Italy, the following October.
The initiative met with reservations among many of his collaborators. They regarded the move as risky — no one could guess what the outcome would be.
Traditionalist Catholics in particular expressed doubts, regarding the event as an open invitation to syncretism.
But John Paul II was undaunted. “The Holy See wishes to contribute to inspire a world movement of prayer for peace that, going beyond borders and nations, and reaching believers of all religions, will embrace the whole world,” he said at the time.
Later, the Pope made another unexpected appeal in regard to the Assisi event: “I send an ardent appeal to all parts in conflict in the world so that they will observe a complete truce, at least during the whole day of October 27.” Many combatants worldwide honored the plea.
The prayer-day event itself drew 71 non-Christian religious leaders, 54 Christian leaders, and 25 representatives of the world episcopate.
In order to avoid any suggestion of religious relativism, John Paul II beforehand gave the instruction: “not to pray together but to be together to pray.”
Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, then president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and one of the principal organizers of the Day of Prayer, recalled that no group could interfere in the prayer of other religions; and there was to be no joint prayer.
“Each religion was able to pray in different places, in fidelity to its own beliefs,” the cardinal explained.
