CTV Screenshot - Pope in Assisi for Day of Prayer for Peace

Pope Kicks Off Visit to Assisi for World Day of Prayer for Peace

Today’s Pastoral Visit Commemorates 30th Anniversary of Meeting of Prayer for Peace, Desired by John Paul II in 1986

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Pope Francis has returned to the Italian town of Assisi today, just over a month after his Aug. 4 visit, this time to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Meeting of Prayer for Peace, desired by John Paul II on Oct. 27, 1986.
According to a statement released by the Holy See Press Office, at 10:55 a.m. Rome time, Francis’ helicopter took off from the Vatican heliport for the visit to Assisi for the World Day of Prayer, in the ambit of the event “Thirst for Peace: Religions and Cultures in Dialogue,” promoted by the diocese of Assisi, by the Franciscan Families and by Rome’s Sant’Egidio Community.
Once the helicopter landed in the Migaghelli sports field, the Pope was received at Santa Maria degli Angeli by Archbishop-Bishop of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino, Monsignor Domenico Sorrentino; by the Honorable Catiuscia Marini, President of the Umbria Region; by Raffaele Cannizzaro, Prefect of Perugia and by Stefania Proietti, Mayor of Assisi.
The Pope went by car to the Sacred Convent of Assisi and was received by the Custos, Father Mauro Gambetti; by His Holiness Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople; by Abbas Shuman, Vice-President  of Al Azhar (Egypt); by His Grace Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury; by His Holiness Ephrem II, Syro-Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and by the Chief Rabbi of Rome, Riccardi Di Segni.
They all arrived together at the Sixtus IV Cloister, where they were awaited by representatives of the world churches and religions, and bishops of Umbria. The Holy Father greeted all the representatives individually.
At 1:00 pm, Francis took part in a lunch at the refectory of the Sacred Convent, which included refugees from suffering countries, who currently are being offered housing by the Sant’Egidio Community. In the course of the pleasant meeting, Marco Impagliazzo, President of Sant’Egidio Community, recalled the 25th anniversary of the Patriarchy of His Holiness Bartholomew I.
Sant’Egidio has informed ZENIT that the menu for today’s lunch consisted of an appetizer with bresaola, arugula and mozzarella, trofie pasta with pesto, turkey with beans and a roasted mushroom, and a fruit tart for dessert.
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On ZENIT’s Web page:
Full Program: https://zenit.org/articles/program-for-popes-assisi-visit-today/

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Deborah Castellano Lubov

Deborah Castellano Lubov is Senior Vatican & Rome Correspondent for ZENIT; author of 'The Other Francis' ('L'Altro Francesco') featuring interviews with those closest to the Pope and preface by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin (currently published in 5 languages); Deborah is also NBC & MSNBC Vatican Analyst. She often covers the Pope's travels abroad, often from the Papal Flight (including for historic trips such as to Abu Dhabi and Japan & Thailand), and has also asked him questions on the return-flight press conference on behalf of the English-speaking press present. Lubov has done much TV & radio commentary, including for NBC, Sky, EWTN, BBC, Vatican Radio, AP, Reuters and more. She also has contributed to various books on the Pope and has written for various Catholic publications. For 'The Other Francis': http://www.gracewing.co.uk/page219.html or https://www.amazon.com/Other-Francis-Everything-They-about/dp/0852449348/

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