Religions can never justify war, hatred or violence. Their clear and unambiguous Yes is only for peace, solidarity, dialogue. This belief will be strengthened anew tonight in Piazza del Plebiscito, in Naples, at the end of the Inter-Religious Meeting on "For a violence-free world. Dialoguing religions and cultures", promoted by Comunita’ di Sant’Egidio and by the Neapolitan diocese. After a prayer in different places and with different rites, the about 200 delegates of different religions and Christian confessions will reach the stage, where, after the final speeches and some exchanges of experiences, an appeal will be proclaimed and signed at the end of three days of reflections and prayers for peace in the world, in the wake of the first meeting, which was established by John Paul II in Assisi on 28th October 1986. At the end, the sign of peace will be exchanged between the religious delegates, and a candle will be lit. This morning, a honorary degree will be given by the "L’Orientale" University of Naples to the Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I. The three days had begun on Sunday with the meeting with Pope Benedict XVI, a speech from the patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, as well as the address of the Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi and card. Crescenzio Sepe, archbishop of Naples.
