Religious leaders and prominent theological scholars from around the world will gather on campus for a conference next week to discuss important global issues such as poverty, HIV/AIDS and terrorism, culminating in an international prayer service.
The International Prayer for Peace, marking 20 years since Pope John Paul II issued his historic gathering for peace in Assisi, Italy, will be held at 5:30 p.m. on April 27, at the end of the two-day conference. This will be the first time the event is held in the United States.
Chester Gillis, chair of the Theology Department, said that panel discussions during the conference will foster dialogue between representatives of different faiths and beliefs.
“Personally, and for many participants in the event, this affords a rare opportunity to listen to each other, to learn from each other, and to challenge one another,” Gillis said. “I am confident that it will be successful, benefiting the participants and audience, the Georgetown community, and the larger Washington community.”
Religious leaders from many different faiths – including Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Islamic, Judaic and Eastern religions – are expected to speak at the conference.
The event will consist of three different sessions on April 27 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:15 p.m., each featuring five panel discussions with numerous speakers.
College Dean Jane McAuliffe, who is scheduled to speak at the conference, emphasized the significance to Georgetown of the International Prayer for Peace and said the meeting would allow prominent religious figures to conduct a serious dialogue about faith and world events.
The prayer will be followed by a procession of the speakers, culminating at Healy Lawn for the event’s final ceremony.
The conference will begin on the evening of April 26, with opening ceremonies in Gaston Hall.
Carol Lancaster, director of the Mortara Center for International Studies, said that the conference would provide a unique opportunity to engage in inter-religious dialogue on pressing world issues. She said that the best way to build religious understanding is to promote effective action on pressing issues among members of many different faiths.
“We talk too much about our differences sometimes,” she said. “Here is an occasion to celebrate our common concerns and act to address them. It is a worthy effort.”
Clare Fieseler (SFS ’06), the university’s volunteer coordinator for the conference, said that roughly 120 volunteers had signed up to help with the events over the course of the next week. Fieseler said that around half of the volunteers belong to the diocese of Washington, while the other half are Georgetown students.
Fieseler said that volunteers will handle numerous tasks, such as manning registration tables for discussions, ushering at events and giving tours to international guests.
“Our job is to make them feel comfortable on campus,” Fieseler said.
Fieseler said that although she has been involved with volunteer efforts since January, most of the preparation has only started to come together recently.
“So far so good,” she said. “We’re a little nervous, but for the most part we’re excited.”
The university announced that it would hold the International Prayer for Peace in October 2004, according to Sarah Kushnick, international conference coordinator for the university.
Kushnick said that the Department of Public Safety will handle security for the event. Some speakers, including Giuliano Amato, senator of the Italian Republic, plan to provide their own security for the event, she added.
University spokesman Jacques Arsenault said that Georgetown has been working hard to ensure a safe atmosphere for the event.
“Georgetown is working with our Department of Public Safety and Office of University Safety to ensure that the appropriate security measures will be in place for the conference,” he said.
Arsenault said that the International Prayer for Peace, which has previously been held in different parts of Europe, is the largest regularly held religious gathering in the world, and therefore the university is preparing for a large audience.
Fieseler pointed to the success of the European Prayer for Peace conferences as an indicator of the success of the conference at Georgetown.
“We’re expecting a big crowd,” she said.
Kushnick said that she hopes a large student turnout will make the conference a staggering success.
“I think it’s the most important event to happen on campus this year,” she said. “Everyone should be encouraged to attend.”
