I am very honored to be invited to participate in this commemorative 21st International Gathering of Prayer for World Peace, and given an opportunity to make a speech in the presence of the President, Mayor of Naples, traditional religious leaders and others who seek a dialogue for peace, gathered from the world. I would also like to express deep respect and appreciation to the members of the Community of St. Egidio.

In Assisi, We experienced the commemorative 20th Anniversary of this gathering last year; now we will take the new step for the further progress of the Pilgrimage for Peace here in Naples,. Looking back at the past international gathering, we can see a significant history already. Twenty-one years ago, His Holiness, Pope John Paul convened the first International Gathering of Prayer for World Peace at Assisi, the sacred place of St. Francis.

Not only for the past twenty years, but going back further to the Second Vatican Council, the Roman Catholic Church has recognized the value of ecumenical and interreligious dialogue. Furthermore, it is said that The World's Parliament of Religions convened in 1893 in Chicago, US, had a big influence on the Second Vatican Council.

The World's Parliament of Religions was planned in 1893, and about two hundred religious leaders participated in this event. The most notable objectives of this event were 1)world religious leaders to gather in one place, 2)each religious leader to share the spirit of humanity, and build on that spirit, instead of demanding formal or external unification. Surprisingly, those objectives were the exact �Spirit of Assisi�.

Let me speak about the Ven. Jituzen Ashizu representing Tendai Buddhist Denomination invited to that notable event. He introduced Mahayana to the world and strived to clear off the prejudice of Buddhism as an uncivilized religion. Upon his return to Japan, he disseminated the meaning of the event to the priests of Enryakuji-temple on Mt. Hiei.

In August of this year, The 20th Anniversary of The Religious Summit Meeting on Mt.Hiei, The Interreligious Gathering of Prayer for World Peace was convened, that inherited the Assisi spirit. Ven. Etai Yamada, late Tendai Zasu, The Supreme Priest of the Tendai Buddhist Denomination, who participated in The Day of Prayer for World Peace in Assisi in October, 1986, announced there the intention to hold The Religious Summit Meeting on Mt. Hiei in Japan, taking over Assisi spirit. I am touched again that The Religious Summit Meeting on Mt. Hiei originated with The World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago convened a hundred years before; and that this notable International Gathering of Prayer for World Peace is a product of the same stream of the history by a curious coincidence.

St. Francis of Assisi said in the prayer for peace, �Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace� and �In giving that we receive�. In like manner, Tendai founder Saicho said, �Forgetting the self, devoting the self to the needs of others, is the ultimate compassion.�

His Holiness late Pope John Paul chose Assisi, as the location of the prayer for peace, and noted that this Saicho�s spirit is the most important to develop interreligious dialogue.

Dialogue is necessary first to eradicate violence from the world. I do insist on looking for what is common to both sides instead of what is different.

At last, I would like to mention that the Community of St. Egidio is working for peace as a bridge to seek points in common for the development of dialogue all over the world. Before I end my address, I pray for this event in Naples to be a fruitful one and to bring further courage and productive results to the activities of the Community of St. Egidio.

Thank you very much for your kind attention.