October 25, 2011. (Romereports.com) On October 27, Benedict XVI travels to Assisi to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the meeting for world peace. The historic event that was created by John Paul II was attended by representatives from the world's other major religions.

Cardinal Roger Etchegaray was in charge of organizing the meeting because of his role as the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. He says the meetings was one of the greatest ideas of the Polish pope.

Card. Roger Etchegaray
Ex-President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
“It was a bold idea, something truly new and we can say prophetic.”

Inter-religious dialogue can not be understood today without Assisi. The meeting was a huge step forward in relations with non-Christian beliefs, because until then the Catholic Church had only reached out to other Christians.

Despite the advances, there is still more to be done to reach a full inter-religious dialogue.

Card. Roger Etchegaray
Ex-President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
“The problem now in depth is that we are not yet able to blurt out the true dialogue. This does not only happen when they come cross good words and someone is friendly with a person from another religion in meeting.”

Cardinal Etchegaray warns that a de-Christianizing in the world could also be a threat to peace.

Card. Roger Etchegaray
Ex-President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
“If we do not understand that God is love and merciful love, meaning He forgives us, that we are all poor sinners, if we can't accept it, if we don't understand, if we don't pray for it, we will never have peace among us, that will be lasting for everyone.”

For Cardinal Etchegaray, there is a sign of hope: both Christians and members of other faiths are showing that religions are a sign of allegiance to the God of peace.


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