Diocesan News
October 27 marks the 40th anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Peace in Assisi. In 1986, Pope John Paul II invited world religious leaders to come to Assisi to fast and pray for peace.
This was a milestone in interreligious dialogue that communicated a powerful symbolic message to the world – the spirit of prayer and non-violence. Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, Zoroastrians, leaders of African and American Traditional Religions and of Shinto took part in this event.
His Eminence, George Jacob Cardinal Koovakad, prefect for the Dicastery for Inter-religious Dialogue, remarked that October 27, 1986 was a turning point in the history of inter-religious dialogue, becoming a lasting symbol of the Church’s commitment to promoting social justice, moral well-being, peace and freedom for the benefit of all.
His Eminence acknowledged that the anniversary will be commemorated in Assisi on 27 October 2026 in the presence of the Holy Father. He extended an invitation to each local Church community to find appropriate ways to commemorate this historic milestone.
Resources:
Guidelines for Multi-Faith Worship (Liturgical Documents) Guidelines for Multi-Faith
Worship (Liturgical Documents)
Nostra Aetate: The Catholic Church’s Journey into Dialogue by Fr Patrick McInerney Promoting Interfaith Relations- Archdiocese of Melbourne
Promoting Interfaith Relations Second Edition single pages
Letter and Decalogue of Assisi for Peace | EWTN
Letter to all the Heads of State and Government of the world and “Decalogue of Assisi for Peace” (March 4, 2002)
Living the Gospel in Times of Social Division – ACBC Social Justice Statement – August
2026 – Social Justice Statements
Images:
- Gregorini Demetrio, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Queensland State Archives from Brisbane, PDM-owner, via Wikimedia Commons