Pope Calls Religions Together

Pope John Paul brought the world's religions together on Thursday, Muslims and Jews, Buddhists and African animists, to pray for peace and vow never to support conflict in God's name.

Christian monks in brown woolen habits, saffron-robed Buddhists, black-cloaked Muslims, Sikhs wearing turbans, white-bearded Orthodox patriarchs — they came from all over the world on a peace train to pray near the tomb of St Francis.

They filled a tented arena that was decorated with a single olive tree, the symbol of peace.

"In times of greater anxiety about the fate of the world, we sense more clearly than ever the duty to commit ourselves personally to the defense and promotion of the fundamental good which is peace," the Pope said.

Wearing his traditional white robe, the Roman Catholic leader sat on a red stage flanked by a kaleidoscope of religious leaders as they each addressed a crowd of some 3,000 people in a white tent held up by steel scaffolding.

"We welcome the invitation to proclaim before the world that religion must never become a reason for conflict, hatred or violence like that seen once more in our days," said Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, who spent 13 years in prison in Vietnam for his faith.

Assisi, a mediaeval city accustomed to hearing the sounds of western choirs and Gregorian chants, was treated to something different as religious pluralism ruled.

Geshe Tashi Tsering, wearing a crimson and saffron robe, began his intervention from the stage with a Buddhist chant and then said: "May I become at all times, both now and forever, a protector for those without protection...."

Chief Amadou Gasseto, of the traditional Vodou animist religion of the West African nation of Benin, said the occasion taught "the art of knowing how to respect one's adversary, of tolerating differences and understanding others' convictions."

Rabbi Israel Singer of the World Jewish Congress departed from his prepared address, greeted the Pope with a military-style salute and said:

"Only you, John Paul II, could put this together. Only you can make this happen and only we have to help you do this."

Sitting on a cream-colored throne, the 81-year-old pontiff told the audience that conflicts often arise because of "an unjustified association of religion with nationalistic, political and economic interests."

"It is essential therefore, that religious people and communities should in the clearest and most radical way repudiate violence," he said. "There is no religious goal which can possibly justify the use of violence by man against man."

The event represented one of the largest gatherings ever of Christian groups, bringing together Catholics, Baptists, Lutherans, Mormons, Mennonites and Orthodox Christians, among others.

They joined representatives of 11 other religions, including Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Shintoists and followers of tribal religions.

It is the third such day of peace organized by the Pope during hs 23-year pontificate, and he wants to ram home the message that conflict, murder and violence should never be carried out in the name of God.

The Pope hopes the meeting will help promote relations with Muslims in the wake of the September 11 suicide plane attacks on the United States and the subsequent war in Afghanistan.

After the morning session of peace appeals the religious groups were then to go off to various rooms within the complex for further meditation.

In the afternoon they will return to the tent solemnly to vow never to support violence in God's name.

Aboard the train taking the leaders from the Vatican to Assisi, some of the participants spoke of their hopes and fears.

"Killing in the name of God is blasphemy," said Samuel Rene-Sirat, a Grand Rabbi from France. "To kill in the name of God is to kill twice."

The followers of a dozen religions came more in hope than expectation. All called for peace and understanding but no one seemed to believe the initiative would end fighting in Kashmir, silence guns in Afghanistan or halt any number of African wars.

Among the leaders attending the retreat was Cardinal Edward Egan, archbishop of New York, the site of the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States that killed several thousand people. He called the event an attempt by the pope to bring various religious leaders together to "alert the world to the need to put an end to the conflict that is troubling us right now."

And away from Assisi, not everyone was happy with the initiative and some have criticized the Pope.

"To pray with heretics, schismatics, rabbis, mullahs, witch doctors and various idolaters creates confusion among Catholic believers," Federico Bricolo and Massimo Polledri, members of an Italian government coalition party, said in a statement.

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