The power of the initiative lay in its simplicity: the participants did not stand to dissolve the differences between their creeds, nor did they perform a single religious rite; rather, each prayed according to their own faith, and they met in a silence that respects the conscience of the other. Thus, the "Spirit of Assisi" was born, not as a theological compromise, but as a shared human commitment.
On January 24, 2002, the same Pope returned to Assisi, calling for prayer once again amidst escalating global tensions, in the hope of sparing humanity from new wars. However, March 2003 brought the war on Iraq, in a painful irony between calls for peace and decisions for war. Pope Benedict XVI then continued this journey on the twenty-fifth anniversary in 2011, followed by Pope Francis on the thirtieth anniversary in 2016, affirming that dialogue is not a luxury, but a moral duty.
Today, the fortieth anniversary of the Assisi meeting approaches, coinciding with the eight-hundredth anniversary of the death of Saint Francis, the man who made brotherhood and peace a way of life. Pope Leo XIV has announced his intention to participate in commemorating the anniversary. We raise our prayers to God Almighty for his recovery from the health ailment that has afflicted him, hoping that it will not hinder his mission or his anticipated visits, whether inside or outside Italy. Among the stops proposed for his visits are Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, the country where he served as a missionary and bishop, in addition to his previous role as General Superior of the Augustinian Order.
Assisi also holds a special place in the Jordanian memory. In 2019, His Majesty King Abdullah II received the "Lamp of Peace," in recognition of his efforts in interfaith dialogue and the promotion of coexistence. It is an honor that aligns with Jordan's mission in protecting Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem and defending the culture of mutual respect.
After four decades, has the world become more peaceful? Humanity has progressed technically, but it has not progressed morally at the same pace. Wars still uproot people from their homes, and some voices exploit religion to fuel conflicts instead of healing wounds. In our Holy Land specifically, silencing the cannons is not enough; for peace without justice, without protected rights and respected dignity, remains a fragile truce.
How much our region needs this lesson today. Christians and Muslims in the East are not guests of one another, but partners in one history and one future. When holy sites turn into causes for conflict, the responsibility of religious leaders becomes doubled: to protect their sanctity from hate speech, and to demand human rights away from the political exploitation of religion.
Therefore, the "Spirit of Assisi" is not a commemorative photo of leaders praying together, but a continuous test of the sincerity of their mission: does prayer turn into commitment, dialogue into partnership, and faith into service to humanity?
Forty years ago, a prayer for peace rose from Assisi. Today, heaven still hears, but the earth waits. For peace is a blessing we ask of God, and a responsibility we must rise to fulfill.
