The Prayer for Peace ceremony was held on Friday, April 14 at the Headquarters UN in NYC. “We have gathered at a unique moment, on the last Friday of Ramadan, when Christians celebrate Passover, Jews celebrate the end of Passover and Sikhs enjoy the Vaisakhi festival. Even the calendar sends us a message of unity.” With these words he addressed the participants of the ceremony UN Secretary General António GUTERRES.
The Prayer for Peace ceremony, in addition to the leadership and staff of the UN, was attended by diplomats from all over the world and religious leaders – representatives of Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism and Christianity. Each of them said their own prayer.
As noted by the UN Secretary General, several major religious holidays are held this month, which are celebrated by representatives of different faiths. This is a pretty rare coincidence. The Prayer for Peace event was a message of unity, which today, amid many bloody conflicts, the international community badly needs.
“Wars and conflicts lead to destruction, poverty and hunger and force tens of millions of people to leave their homes … And even peaceful countries are stifled by monstrous inequality and political polarization,” said António Guterres. He recalled that peace is the main goal of mankind. At this exceptional moment, when representatives of so many religions celebrate holidays symbolizing renewal in one month, the head of the UN called on people around the world to join in prayer for peace and start with a clean slate.
“Let us hold fast to the common faith that unites the entire human family. Let’s come together – communities and countries. Let’s pray for peace,” António Guterres said.
