The document summarizes an interfaith Day of Prayer for Peace held in Assisi, Italy on September 20, 2016 to mark the 30th anniversary of a similar historic event convened by Pope St. John Paul II in 1986. Over 400 religious and political leaders from around the world gathered in Assisi to pray for peace amid ongoing conflicts around the world. Pope Francis presided over the closing of the summit, joining in ecumenical and interreligious prayer with leaders from Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and other faiths to end violence and promote reconciliation.

1. CBCI Office for Dialogue and Desk for Ecumenism
20th September, 2016, Day of Prayer for Peace
“Thirst for Peace: Religions and Cultures in Dialogue”
Reader: Dear Friends, we are gathered here hearkening to the invitation of our beloved Holy
Father Pope Francis to celebrate today 20th September 2016, a Day of Prayer for Peace. Today,
at Assisi an Interreligious Meeting is taking place and our dear Pope Francis is presiding over
the meeting. Let us begin by singing together:
Hymn: Make me a channel of your peace or any other suitable one
Reader 1: The Catholic peace and humanitarian group Community of Saint Egidio in
collaboration with the Franciscan families, the diocese of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo
Tadino and the Umbrian Bishops Conference has organized the World Day of Prayer for
Peace summit from 18-20 September 2016. “Thirst for Peace: Religions and Cultures in
Dialogue” is the beautiful theme for this special event. Father Mauro Galimberti, custodian of
the Sacred Convent of Assisi, said that the Franciscan friars will join the Sant’Egidio
community and the diocese to ‘open wide the doors for a new meeting among the world
leaders of religion’.”
Reader: Let us lift our hearts in prayer to God for the organizers of the World Day of Prayer
for Peace summit and in particular for Professor Andrea Riccardi, founder of the Sant’Egidio
Community and for all its members. (Pause for silent Prayer).
Reader: The President of the Saint Egidio Community, Marco Impagliazzo, spoke of “a
necessary meeting,” especially today: “There is a great thirst for peace that rises from the
poor, the victims of terrorism and wars going on in many parts of the world. We want to be
their voice. We’re not going to Assisi just to remind the thirtieth of the great prayer by John
Paul II, but to celebrate a new event with all those who in recent years have put us on a
journey to build peace. It will be a convergence of very high religious and institutional
personality to manifest to all that religions are not indifferent to this cry that rises from the
people, to distance themselves from the preachers of hate, working in favor of integration that
is the key to defending our societies from violence. ”
Voice 2: We are aware that we face constant threats posed by widespread violence, terror
and wars going on in the Middle East and Africa and in other places. In spirit, together with
Pope Francis, let us unite ourselves with hundreds of religious leaders of all countries and
representatives from the worlds of culture and institutions and with a popular participation
from different Italian and European cities that are at Assisi today. The God of peace will
surely hear our prayer.
Hymn: Peace perfect peace or any other appropriate one.
Reader: About 400 participants among religious, political and social leaders are expected for
this interreligious meeting, which is being held to mark the 30th anniversary of the World
Day of Prayer for Peace, historic 1986 interreligious event that Pope St. John Paul II convened
in Assisi in the birthplace of St. Francis. That ground-breaking initiative of St. John Paul II
distinctively brought together 160 religious representatives who fasted and prayed together
for a day. The Pope’s final invitation of that historical meeting was: “Let’s keep spreading the

2. CBCI Office for Dialogue and Desk for Ecumenism
message of Peace and living the spirit of Assisi.” St. John Paul II returned to Assisi for similar
gatherings, one in 1993 and another in 2002. In “Novo Millenio Ineunte” St. John Paul II has
expressed eloquently: “... we face the challenge of inter-religious dialogue, to which we will
be committed in the new century (...) Dialogue must go on”. The last day of prayer led by a
pope was convoked by Benedict XVI in 2011, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the
first historic meeting in Assisi.
Soft music played aloud…
St. Pope John Paul II leads an interreligious Day of Prayer and
Fasting for Peace in Assisi in 1986. (Credit: ANSA.)
Reader 2: In 2007 in Naples Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI affirmed: "While respecting the
differences of the various religions, we are all called to work for peace and to be effectively
committed to furthering reconciliation among peoples. This is the true ‘spirit of Assisi’ which
opposes every form of violence and the abuse of religion as a pretext for violence (...) The
Catholic Church intends to continue on the path of dialogue in order to encourage
understanding between the different cultures, traditions and forms of religious wisdom."
Hymn: Peace Time, Peace Time or any other suitable one.
Reader 3: Today, 20th September, during his one-day visit to the Italian hilltop town of Assisi,
Pope Francis will take part in the closing of the World Day of Prayer for Peace summit. Pope
Francis’ presence at the prayer summit will be his third time in Assisi, the first took place on
October 4th 2013, for the feast day of his namesake, and the second being just a few weeks
ago, on August 4th to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the pardon indulgence. Right
from his election, Pope Francis has shown that both interfaith and ecumenical dialogue are
great priorities for his pontificate. He has met with Patriarch Bartholomew on several
occasions. He was the first pope in history to meet with a leader of the Russian Orthodox
Church, when he embraced Patriarch Kirill on February 12 while on his way to Mexico. The
Pope has manifested a strong significance of dialogue with Muslims, welcoming al-Tayyeb to
the Vatican on May 23 for a visit mainly seen as making a leap in Catholic-Muslim relations.
Together with Pope Francis, there will be, among others, the Italian President Sergio
Mattarella and the rector of the Islamic university of al-Azhar, Ahmad al-Tayyeb. According
to a schedule published Sept. 1 by the Vatican, the pope will be welcomed to Assisi by
Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of
Canterbury, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II of Antioch, and leaders of the
Muslim, Jewish and Tendai Buddhist communities.

3. CBCI Office for Dialogue and Desk for Ecumenism
A peace flag is seen as Pope Francis leads an encounter
with young people in Assisi, Italy, in this Oct. 4, 2013,
file photo. (CNS/Paul Haring).
Hymn: Spirit of the Living God fall afresh on us or any other
Reader: The Bible is packed with direction and teaching. The theme of peace is a significant
one and the Bible has offered us various texts that speak of specific things we can do to gain
true Peace that surpasses all knowledge. As we welcome the Word of God into our heart, let
us pick up from it one or two things and start applying them to our life and let us watch
ourselves as we become more at peace.
(Choose any two or three of the following texts and proclaim them leaving time for the faithful to
meditate upon the Word proclaimed)
Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let
not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have
tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 20:19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the
disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with
you.”
Mark 9:50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have
salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
1 Corinthians 7:15 But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or
sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace.
James 3:18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with
one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
Pause for silent reflection
Hymn: Peace I leave with you, my friends or any other appropriate one.
Reader: Today, in Assisi there will be greeting by Bishop Domenico Sorrentino, a testimony
from a victim of war, messages read by Patriarch Bartholomew I, a Muslim representative, a

4. CBCI Office for Dialogue and Desk for Ecumenism
Jewish representative, Japanese Buddhist Patriarch, Professor Andrea Riccardi, founder of the
Sant’Egidio Community, address by Pope Francis, Letter appealing for peace that will be
handed to children in various countries, a moment of silence for the victims of war, the
signing of an Appeal for Peace and the lighting of two candles, exchanging the sign of peace.
Reader: In the afternoon, members of various religions will move to different locations in
Assisi to offer prayers for peace in their own traditions. Pope Francis will participate in the
Christians' ecumenical prayer in the lower Basilica of St. Francis. Uniting ourselves with
everyone present in Assisi, let us lift up our hearts to the Lord. We shall now light two
candles invoking the Lord to illumine our world with His Light. (The Parish Priest or anyone
representing the interreligious group may light the candle). The Parish Priest or the head of
the community invites everyone present to exchange a meaningful sign of peace.
Prayer of the Faithful
Celebrant: “To pray for peace is above all a gift to be implored from God with fervent and
trusting insistence” said St. John Paul II. Let us raise our hearts in prayer and implore the
Lord Jesus on this Day of Prayer for Peace to bless everyone in this world with true peace and
earnest desire to work for peace. Response: Lord hear our Prayer.
1. For our Holy Father that his constant appeal to cease wars and become messengers of
peace may be heard by all and that the Pope’s individual meeting today with Bartholomew I,
a Muslim representative, Archbishop Justin Welby, Patriarch Efrem II and a Jewish
representative may bear abundant fruit. R.
2. For the leaders of different Christian Churches and various religions and especially for
those gathered in Assisi today that every effort made to build peace and harmony may be
effective and that people may know that religions are not at war as frequently projected. Help
us Lord to open ourselves to search for and uphold the principles acknowledged by all the
religions for peaceful coexistence. R.
3. For the victims of war that the Lord may heal the wounds of pain and suffering they carry
in their very being and that they may find brothers and sisters who will reach out to them
with love and compassion. Let us in the silence of our hearts pray for the victims of war.
(Pause for silence) R.
4. For each and every believer that as he/she joins the group of his/her respective religious
tradition to pray may be illumined to seek the path of peace and harmony. R.
5. For His Grace Archbishop Felix Machado and all others from our country who are in
Assisi today in the “feast of peace!” that strengthened by the Lord they may continue to work
for peace in India where peace is required much. R.
6. For the signing of an appeal for peace in Assisi today that will then be handed to children
representing different parts of the globe that it may challenge everyone to be an ambassador
of peace and harmony in daily life. R.
7. For all of us present here and for each and every human being in the world that the legacy
of Assisi may continue to illumine the hearts of people of all religions that we may always
work in favour of integration which is the key to defending our societies from violence. R.

5. CBCI Office for Dialogue and Desk for Ecumenism
Celebrant: God our Father, “with fervent and trusting insistence” we have placed before you
our prayer for peace. You, who understand even our unexpressed desires, look with mercy
on us your children and may grace and peace be multiplied to us. We make this prayer
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Reader: Mary: friend of humanity and icon of Dialogue accompanies us in our commitment
to become ambassadors of peace and harmony. Assisi ‘thirst for peace’ 30 years from 1st Day
of Prayer convoked by St. John Paul II continues to challenge us even today. “We listen to the
words, we listen to the wind. The wind is the Spirit: we listen to the Spirit.” This impromptu
statement that came from the heart of St. John Paul II during the inter-religious meeting for
peace in the lower square of Assisi on January 24, 2002 could be also true of our gathering
here today. As we conclude this moment of our prayer, may joy and peace be with us as we
continue our commitment to go beyond war and hatred to build communities of peace.
Hymn: Peace is flowing like a river or any other suitable one.
This prayer service is only a guide. You can feel free to adapt it as you wish.
Prepared by Sr. Teresa Joseph fma
Secretary CBCI Office for Dialogue and Desk for Ecumenism