Prayer Day for Peace Was Suggested Over Dinner

Cardinal Husar Prompted Pope to Convoke Assisi Event

VATICAN CITY, JAN. 8, 2002 (Zenit.org).- It was Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, archbishop of Greek-Catholics of Ukraine, who suggested to the Pope the meeting of religious leaders to pray for peace, which John Paul II has convoked for Jan. 24 in Assisi.

This is revealed in a letter of Father Virginio Bressanelli, superior general of the Congregation of the Sacred Heart (Dehonians).

In the text of the letter, published by the Vidimus Dominum news service of religious congregations, Father Bressanelli explains that the initiative was mentioned at the end of last October's synod of bishops.

Superiors general of religious congregations participating in the synodal assembly were dining with the Holy Father when Cardinal Husar joined them.

During the dinner, the archbishop mayor of Lviv of Eastern-rite Catholics suggested to the Pope that the 1986 prayer meeting of religious leaders, held in Assisi, should be repeated in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks.

"After a minute of silence, [the Pope] gave his consent with a nod of the head and a soul-filled yes. A month later, during the Angelus of Sunday, Nov. 18, he called the meeting," explained Father Bressanelli, who was present at the dinner.

Zenit - The World Seen From Rome
8. januar 2002