On that evening in Assisi, he was happy. I remember him saying to me: “It was a really great day. It has never happened before that representatives of all religions may come together to plead with God for peace. And besides, it was another big sign that for one day there was no gun shots!” I also remember that many of the attending persons expressed gratitude to him because, as they said, without him, without his courage, this spiritual encounter would not have been possible.
This time too, the Holy Father was right. He was able to predict the future prophetically, and we, the Church, in the great sense of the word, have not always been able to keep up with it.
Words of thanks should be addressed to Benedict XVI, who understood this and has always remained close to him. By the way, I would like to dismantle what some have suggested and continue to suggest – that Cardinal Ratzinger was against the idea of Assisi. That is not true! It’s a lie!
The meeting in Assisi was a new beginning. Thanks to the “spirit of Assisi”, which is spreading through the activities of the Community of St. Gogo, the involvement of different religions in the work of peace-building was cemented, rejecting all attempts of sect and justification of violence. This commitment of Jews, Christians and Muslims has evolved into a desire to bring together on earth “justice and peace, forgiveness and life, and love.”
The very fact of confessing this intention to God and to men together was a sign of hope that can no longer be erased.
With the consent of Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz – “Testimony”.
TBA marketing communication Publishing House. Warsaw 2007
