Nonbelievers to participate in Assisi peace meeting

July 11, 2011

In an initiative “much desired and supported by Benedict XVI,” five nonbelievers will participate in the day of reflection, dialogue, and prayer for peace and justice in the world that will take place in Assisi on October 27.

“They are people from the worlds of culture, science, and philosophy who do not belong to any organized religious expression, but represent--though in different ways--the multitude of those who do not profess any creed and yet who have an ethical and humanistic vision of existence and being,” writes Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture since 2007.

“These nonbelievers, who have accepted with enthusiasm to be pilgrims for peace and justice together with believers, certainly have some answers, conceptions and ideas in their heads and their hearts, but want to ask questions of those who believe in order to have a useful exchange about the fundamental questions of life and death, truth and lies, transcendence and immanence, good and evil, justice and violence, peace and war, love and pain,” he added.

 

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Further information:

• Cardinal Ravasi: Those who ask questions are on the paths of the truth (L’Osservatore Romano)
• Vatican explains plans for 'day of reflection' at Assisi (CWN, 4/4)