Catholic groups and representatives of various faith traditions gathered for an interfaith prayer in observance of the 25th anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Peace.
Held last October 27 at Quiapo’s Plaza Miranda, the gathering was also in solidarity with Pope Benedict XVI who called for a day of reflection and dialogue in Assisi to commemorate the first historic meeting that happened there 25 years ago.
In October 1986, Pope John Paul II convened the celebrated gathering of various religious leaders in Assisi for a day of prayer and fasting. The late pope had called for a united voice among various religions while respecting each other’s diversity and “to proclaim that peace is both necessary and attainable.”
Fr. Carlos Reyes, the Executive Secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Interreligious Dialogue (ECID) of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) called on each faith tradition “to walk the path of peace as pilgrims, to reflect, pray and fast for justice in our world, and to dialogue with one another in an effort to discover creative ways to build mutual understanding and common aspirations for peace.”
“Following the example of St. Francis, dialogue entails employing one’s whole being in this task, listening, and speaking kindly to accept the other, whoever he may be, and welcome him as he is in himself with his convictions and actions, and calling for reciprocity,” Reyes, who led the event’s organizing committee, said in his closing remarks.
The inter-faith prayer began with the offering of a symbolic lighted lantern while representative groups prayed or chanted a prayer for peace.
Groups came from indigenous Tuklas Katutubo, mainline protestants from the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), Hindu, Buddhist, Baha’i,Hare Krishna followers, Muslims and Roman Catholics.
Those present in the inter-faith prayer committed themselves to work for “peace based on the teachings of their respective religions; …[defend] the basic human rights and dignity of all persons of every race, belief, culture; …declare that peace is based on justice and forgiveness; reject and abhor all forms of intolerance, be it religious, cultural and gender related; [and] …condemn violence committed in the name of God or religion and declare that it is incompatible with the authentic spirit of religion.
The participants also offered prayer for peace in Mindanao and the victims of armed conflict in the region.
Also present during the gathering were Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim; Monsignor Gabor Pinter, the Charge d’Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature; Alfonso Tagliaferri, the Charge d’affaires of the Italian Embassy; and Monsignor Jose Clemente Ignacio, the rector/parish priest of Quiapo Church.
Organizers of the event together with ECID were Silsilah Dialogue Movement (Manila); Focolare Movement; Peacemakers’ Circle; Religions for Peace; and the Ministry of Ecumenical and Inter-Faith Affairs of the Archdiocese of Manila.
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