Last week marked the 25th anniversary of the first Assisi interfaith gathering for peace, hosted by Blessed John Paul II.
In 1986, Pope Benedict brought together the religious leaders and even four philosophers who describe themselves as humanists or seekers who do not identify with any single religion. Pope Benedict XVI suggested that those who are suspicious of religion cannot be blamed for questioning God's existence when they see believers use their religious faith to rationalize violence stating that “all their struggling and questioning is, in part, an appeal to believers to purify their faith so that God, the true God, becomes accessible."
The Holy Father made it clear, however, that a rejection of religion is not a true path to world peace. Citing the experience of Nazism, he suggested that it proved that “the denial of God corrupts man, robs him of his criteria for judging right and wrong and leads him to violence.” The assembled religious leaders reaffirmed the obligation of love of neighbor and rejected the use of religious faith to justify violence of any kind. They called upon all religious leaders to live out the responsibility to form their followers to respect one another and called for renewed efforts at interreligious dialogue.
In his final comments to the assembly of religious and non-religious leaders and philosophers Pope Benedict exhorted: "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!" The Holy Father’s wise words and sterling witness must be heard not only by world religious leaders who have committed themselves to common respect but most especially by the political leaders of the world who all too often turn to the instruments of war rather than the power of peace to settle disputes. His powerful words must echo from Assisi to the four corners of the globe if peace is to ever have a real chance to flourish in our world. Violence, war and terrorism can never end if political leaders do not heed the wisdom of religious leaders and begin to put aside the destructive forces of terror and the evil of violence. Then and only then we will truly have a civilization of love and a world made whole with peace and justice.
