Pope John Paul II to meet religious leaders in Assisi

Pope John Paul II gathered leaders from the world's major religions in Assisi to pray for peace on October 27, 1986. This meeting marked the first time such a gathering of different faiths occurred at the initiative of the Pope.

Forty years after that initial meeting, the event is noted for demonstrating the connection between religious traditions and peace efforts. According to CathoBel, the spirit of these gatherings suggests that religions can serve as a moral weight against the cynicism and aggression of political leaders.