change language
you are in: home - ecumenis...dialogue - internat...or peace - tirana 2...possible newslettercontact uslink

Support the Community

  

 

 

 
printable version
September 8 2015 19:30 | International Center of Culture (Piazza della Piramide)

APPEAL FOR PEACE 2015

APPEAL FOR PEACE


Women and Men of different religions, we have gathered at the invitation of the Community of Sant’Egidio, of the Orthodox Authocephalous Church and the Episcopal Conference of Albania, in Tirana, capital of a Country that is a symbol of coexistence among religions, after experiencing the arrogance of evil, which banned God and freedom from the life of the Albanian nation. We thank the authorities and people of Albania for the splendid hospitality of these days.

The world today is quickly changing. Perhaps we have been unable to give a soul to its growth and transformation. This world of ours runs the risk of losing awareness of its limitations and feeling almighty, while faceless powers grow, which experiment with the destiny of nations.

We are aware of the suffering caused by the idolatry of power and money, by corruption, by an increasing distance from God in the name of the ego, by the unrestrained and unsustained consumption of creation, by the dominion of man over man, by the insane plan of a world without the other, by the sorrow of infinite wars, contagious and out of control.

70 years after the nuclear massacre and the end of World War II, humanity seems to have forgotten that war is an adventure with no turning back. Indeed, wars seem to have become normal and many people are attracted by the dreadful appeal of violence. The power of evil todays strikes against millions of children, women, elderly people, families; it generates fighters imprisoned by an insane and violent mind-set. Tens of millions of refugees are crowding over Asia, on the borders of Europe, and in other areas of the world.

Our 21st Century is at a crossroads: between hopelessness and a future of hope, between indifference and solidarity. We need to globalize solidarity. We need to open up the doors of our hearts, of our countries, because there are no walls or barbed wires that can stop a person’s need to live and guarantee a future to his or her children. To religions we say: let us help the world find a human response to war, to the world migrations, to the environmental crisis, to the numerous forms of poverty and to the quest for meaning of many people.

As leaders of different religions and cultures, we feel the moral imperative to help the world not to self destruct, not to allow its human feelings to die out.

To the rulers we say: war is not overcome by war: it is a fraud! War always gets out of hand. Do not be deceived! War makes entire peoples inhuman. Let us start afresh from dialogue, which is a unique art, an irreplaceable medicine that brings reconciliation among peoples.

To our religions we recall: war is never holy, the elimination and oppression of the other in the name of God is always blasphemous. The elimination and oppression of others and of their history, while exploiting the name of God, is a horror.

Let a movement grow, of nations for peace and of resistance to terrorism and violence. May the spirit of Assisi guide us, to be more audacious and brave in the search for peace, and in the construction of societies where living together among different people is peaceful and positive.

Peace comes from God; we therefore implore for the indivisible gift of peace. It is the language of the future. Let us learn over again, all of us, the language of dialogue and peace.

Peace is always possible. Therefore we must build it together, all of us, believers and non believers. Let us build peace! With God’s help, we shall transform this era into a time of peace. Because nothing is impossible to God.

Tirana, 8th September 2015
 

#peaceispossible
PROGRAMME

LIVE STREAMING



RELATED NEWS
September 22 2017
MÜNSTER, GERMANY

Paths of Peace: textes, videos and news of the International Meeting of prayer for peace of Münster

IT | EN | ES | FR | CA
September 14 2017

At the Roots of Terrorism. VIDEO


#Pathsofpeace
IT | EN | FR
September 11 2017

''Paths of Peace": Educating and including young people to fight terrorism

IT | EN | ES | DE | FR | PT | ID
September 11 2017

Europe, Pottering: ''We need an immediate framework for legal immigration"

IT | EN | ES | DE | PT
September 11 2017

At "Paths of Peace" the memory of the christian martyrs.


The son of Father Schneider: "In face of the growth of armaments and of the wars, my father would not have kept quiet."
IT | EN | DE | PT
September 8 2017

On the way to Münster? Look at the map for the venues of the Meeting #pathsofpeace

IT | EN | ES | DE | FR | PT | NL
all related news

NEWS IN HIGHLIGHT
December 26 2017

Look at the world map enlightened by the Christmas lunches

IT | EN | ES | DE | FR | PT | CA | NL
December 25 2017

Merry Christmas from the Community of Sant'Egidio!


The joy of Christmas is the joy of a visit, the one we receive, because Jesus comes into the world, and the one each of us can give, because the visit is a joy and a light that remains. WATCH THE VIDEO
IT | EN | ES | DE | FR | PT | CA | NL | RU
December 13 2017 | BLANTYRE, MALAWI

The new church in the House of Friendship of the Community of Sant’Egidio in Blantyre has been inaugurated.


The first prayer was presided by Mgr. Vincenzo Paglia, who met the Community in his visit to Africa
IT | EN | ES | DE | FR | PT | NL | PL | HU

RELATED PRESS REVIEW
September 30 2016
Vida Nueva
Marco Impagliazzo: “Los líderes musulmanes deben denunciar con más valentía el terrorismo”
September 21 2016
La Vanguardia
El papa Francisco pide que ante la guerra no haya "división entre las religiones"
September 19 2016
CATALUNYARELIGIO.CAT
Francesc se suma al compromís de les religions per la pau a Assís
September 19 2016
Vida Nueva
Líderes religiosos de todo el mundo conmemoran el 30º aniversario del ‘Espíritu de Asís’
September 19 2016
Alto Adige
ad Assisi l'Onu delle Religioni per la Pace
all press-related