The tradition of peace meetings in Assisi was started by St. II. It was created by János Pál.
The Sant'Egidio community held its international peace meeting in the German capital between September 10 and 12. Pope Francis sent a message on the occasion in which he asks us to pray tirelessly and work for peace.
The once-divided continent looked to the future with great hopes when the Berlin Wall came down, but today the dark shadow of war once again falls over us, the Holy Father wrote.
You have to believe in the power of brotherhood and unity, you have to give space to peace - this is especially true for the leaders of countries, the international community and people of faith. The blood-soaked territories of Ukraine, Africa and the Middle East cry out to us: we cannot tolerate the destruction of war; to the sight of death, the wounded, pain, escape.
"It is not enough to look at the events realistically, something more is needed, and this is none other than the 'audacity of peace', which forms the core of the meeting of the Sant'Egidio community. Don't be afraid to beg, beg for peace, cross the impossible wall, which was built because of past pains and great wounds. It is difficult, but not impossible, to achieve peace, let us turn to the Lord with confidence!" Pope Francis urges in his message.
The meeting of the Sant'Egidio community in Berlin continues the St. II. The tradition of the Assisi Peace Meetings started by Pope János Pál in 1986, where the world's great religious leaders and civil figures engage in dialogue with each other for the common goal: the creation of peace.
