(Barcelona) - A handshake to tell the world again that there is a will for peace, that this takes patience, time and above all dialogue, the only way to make a shared dream come true. The handshake was that between the Israeli Minister of Diplomatic Relations and Diaspora, Yuli Yoel Edelstein, and the Minister of Religious Affairs of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), Mahamoud Al-Habash, who met at the international pro-peace meeting of Sant'Egidio, “Living together at a time of crisis”, which opened in Barcelona yesterday. “An important, significant gesture – said Mario Marazziti of Comunità di sant’Egidio, who coordinated the meeting of the two Ministers – which comes at a time in which tension is escalating in Jerusalem about the issue of the colonists’ settlements”. Before over 350 political and religious leaders, including the head rabbi of Israel, Yona Metzger, and the Egyptian Minister of Religious Affairs, Zakzouk, the two politicians illustrated their positions, establishing an open and honest dialogue without hiding any problem.

(Barcelona) - “In a difficult time of crisis and conflict, aggravated by the ever-widening phenomenon of globalisation, religions are called to accomplish their special bent for serving peace and cohabitation”. This is the appeal that Pope Benedict XVI made to the participants in the 12th Pro-Peace Meeting «Living together at a time of crisis. Family of peoples, family of God», which opened in Barcelona yesterday, on the initiative of Comunitá di Sant’Egidio and the Archbishopric of Barcelona. The meeting is attended by 300 religious delegates on behalf of the world’s major spiritual traditions, and over 3000 people have registered for the different events that will be held all over the city until tomorrow, all at the same time. Delegations of the Orthodox Church from 11 different Churches are important too, especially the Delegation of the Orthodox Church of Moscow, composed of 6 members, and led by Metropolitan Bishops Ilarion, president of the External Relations Department of the Patriarchate. Over 60 delegates represent the different Christian Churches (Anglicans and Protestants). Hebraism is represented by over 20 leaders, first and foremost the head rabbi of Israel, Yona Metzger, while religious Islam is represented by over 30 leaders. Finally, there are the major Asian religions (Buddhism, Tenrikyo, Rissho Kosei Kai, Jainism, Hinduism), with large delegations of over 80 leaders.
“Recognising in God the source of every man’s life – Pope Benedict XVI writes in his message –, religions help the whole society to promote the inviolable dignity of every human being”. And he added: “Unselfishly serving peace requires of all believers the inescapable and priority commitment of prayer”. “In prayer – the Pope pointed out –, we are also given a chance to learn the language of peace and respect, strengthening that seed of peace that God Himself sowed into man’s heart and that represents, beyond any difference of race, culture and religion, the deepest ambition of the human being. At the same time, in prayer we can find new spiritual strengths not to give in to difficulties nor to the traps of evil and not to lose heart in the necessary way of dialogue, that it may finally get rid of misunderstandings and mistrust and will make us keep building the way of harmonious cohabitation, like brothers and members of one family”.

(Barcelona) - A brotherly, natural hug between the Orthodox Metropolitan bishop Filaret, Exarch of Belarus of the Patriarchate of Moscow, and card. Lluis Martinez Sistach, Catholic Archbishop of Barcelona. Yesterday morning, this powerful gesture opened the international pro-peace meeting of Comunità di Sant’Egidio ,which is taking place in Barcelona. The two church leaders had just finished their preaches at the Catholic Eucharistic ceremony in the basilica of Santa Maria del Mar (which was also attended by the delegates of the Christian Churches), when they hugged each other. “Peace – said card. Sistach to SIR during the meeting – is always necessary. We are here to work, to look for, men of all religions, the ways of peace and to say that the name of religion and the name of God can never be used to justify hatred and violence”. “For those who look for disputes – the Orthodox Metropolitan bishop Filaret said –, this spirit may sound crazy. But we must not be afraid of this, because our testimony, by the grace of God, can be that weak seed that will bear fruit even into the heart of those who have little faith. Even if the current world seems to us to be an unmovable boulder, an impassable mountain, we must not lose heart. This is the Lord’s promise: ‘Everything is possible for those who believe’”.


© SIR - october 4th 2010