Rome, ITALY. On Sept. 29, 2025, from 4:00 to 6:50 p.m., an important interreligious prayer gathering entitled “Hope for Peace” was held in Rome, organized by the “Roman VI” (Inter-Franciscan JPIC Commission). The event brought together more than 100 people from 25 religious congregations and orders, united under the banner of hope and dialogue.
The meeting was divided into two separate parts. The first part was held at the church of the Capuchin Friars Minor on Via Vittorio Veneto. After an introduction by Br. Scaria Kalloor and a hymn to hope proposed by Br. Gian Nicola Paladino, OFMCap General Minister Br. Roberto Genuin reflected on the meaning of hope, drawing inspiration from the life of St. Francis. This was followed by the testimonies of two friars from Ukraine and Lebanon.
The participants then commuted to the Basilica dei Santi XII Apostoli with a short walk called the “Emmaus Walk.” Here, they were hosted by the Friars Minor Conventuals with a message from OFMConv General Minister Br. Carlos Alberto Trovarelli, and addresses from three authoritative voices: Prof. Marco Mosarell discussed hope and peace in the Jewish tradition; Bishop Indunil Janakaratne Kodithuwakku Kankanamalage, Secretary of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, emphasized peace as a constant process, calling for unity and action to bring in new hope; Prof. Cenab Aydin Mustaffa, director of the Tiber Dialogue Center, illustrated hope in Islam, recalling the historical visit of St. Francis to Sultan Malik-Al-Kamil and defining the “spirit of Assisi” (interreligious meeting for peace in Assisi on Oct. 27, 1986) as an experience of openness and love, reenforcing that peace cannot be imposed by force.
The event concluded at 7 p.m., followed by refreshments in the cloister adjacent to the church, leaving participants with a sense of unity and renewed hope for cultivating peace.