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Inter-faith peace conference
Vatican embraces Orthodox effort
The Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, together with President Romano Prodi of the European Commission, chaired a two-day inter-religious meeting in Brussels, December 19-20. The theme of the meeting was “God’s peace in the world.”

The event brought together Christian, Jewish, and Muslim leaders. And the strength of the Vatican delegation suggested a major effort to support the initiative undertaken by the Orthodox leader. Among the Catholic representatives were three prelates from the Roman Curia: Cardinal Walter Kasper, the president of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity; Cardinal Francis Arinze, the president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue; and Cardinal François-Xavier Nguyên Van Thuân, the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. Cardinal Godfried Daneels of Brussels also participated, as well as the founder of the St. Egidio community, Andrea Riccardi.

Cardinal Kasper presented a message to the assembled religious leaders from Pope John Paul II. In it, the Pontiff said that he wished to ally himself “with all my heart, to His Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch and with all the other illustrious individuals gathered in Brussels.”

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