World Church · October 31, 2026
Cardinal Koovakad: The Assisi approach is essential for peace today
Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, head of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, stated that the approach pioneered in Assisi remains essential for achieving peace in the modern world. He made these remarks while attending the 40th anniversary of the 1986 Day of Prayer for Peace in Assisi, Italy. The cardinal expressed deep satisfaction that the spirit of Assisi continues to resonate, describing it as something the world needs more than ever. He emphasized the necessity of working together for peace while remaining faithful to one's own religious tradition.
The cardinal also announced the confirmed dates for Pope Leo XIV's apostolic journey to Latin America, which will take place from November 6 to 17. He described this announcement as a sign of joy and noted the continuity in the selection of countries for papal visits. He highlighted that Pope Francis had been unable to visit Argentina due to health reasons and other circumstances, and that Pope Leo XIV is now visiting the country as a brother. He also mentioned that Peru, which he referred to as the pope's second homeland, is included in the itinerary. Although the pope could not attend the Assisi ceremony in person, he sent a video message encouraging the journey of prayer for peace. The cardinal noted that peace is a central theme for all popes, and that Pope Leo XIV began his pontificate by recalling the peace of Christ.
Reflecting on the legacy of the 1986 gathering, the cardinal identified the primary inheritance as a specific method of engagement. This method involves praying and walking together for the common goal of peace while staying true to individual traditions. He quoted Pope John Paul II, who stated that the participants were not praying together but were together in order to pray. The cardinal expressed gratitude to the Sant'Egidio Community, which has organized the event annually, and to the Diocese of Assisi and various movement groups that promote the spirit of Assisi. He noted that since 1986, the day of prayer has become a process that leads to annual gatherings.
Addressing the role of religion in a world still marked by war, the cardinal clarified that religion does not replace politics and lacks the political power to force peace. However, he argued that religion can change people from within, specifically from the heart, and that no agreement can be maintained without such internal change. He stated that the role of religious leaders is not to engage in political or diplomatic actions but to focus on prayer and the conversion of hearts. He emphasized that the power of such gatherings lies in the presence of multiple religions in one place, which enhances the credibility of their message. When leaders from different traditions speak with one voice, as they did in Assisi in 2016, Abu Dhabi in 2019, and Istanbul in 2021, their message becomes difficult to ignore. The cardinal mentioned that the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue has established a Women's Network for Interreligious Dialogue to broaden women's participation. He also noted that the organization holds an annual Mediterranean Youth Interreligious Encounter and collaborates closely with the World Council of Churches, national bishops' conferences, and nunciatures to coordinate common efforts.
The cardinal discussed the theme of the 40th anniversary, which is peace that lays down arms and peace that disarms. He explained that this concept, used by Pope Leo XIV to describe the peace of the Risen Christ, has three meanings for religions. First, it means being unarmed, which involves abandoning all actions allied with the logic of force, not blessing weapons or war, and not asking God for victory. He referenced the encyclical Magnifica humanitas, which calls for going beyond the theory of just war, except in the strict sense of self-defense, and notes that no algorithm exists that makes war morally acceptable. Second, it means disarming words, which is the first of five practical proposals in the encyclical. This involves being wary of language that incites hatred in sermons, catechesis, media, and schools. Third, it means the power to disarm, where the peace witnessed by religion aims to touch and change the heart of the other rather than defeating them. The cardinal concluded by stating that peace comes from God and cannot be achieved by human power alone, and that prayer is always the source of efforts for peace.