Fourth Summit of Religious Leaders To Be Held in Rome
15/06/2009
In the wake of their Moscow (2006), Cologne (2007) and Sapporo(2008) summits, 129 religious leaders and representatives are to meet in Rome ahead of the upcoming G8 Summit in L’Aquila.
The purpose of the meeting, which has by now turned into one of the chief assemblies on the interreligious dialogue calendar, is to discuss the topics on the July G8’s agenda from a spiritual and ethical point of view..
The meeting’s first act will be to visit L’Aquila on 16 June as a symbolic gesture of support for the people of Abruzzo hit by the earthquake on 6 April, whereas the official opening is scheduled for the late afternoon, with a dinner at Villa Madama to be attended by Italian Foreign Minister Frattini.
The religious leaders’ and representatives' talks will be hosted by the Foreign Ministry at the Farnesina and continue on 17 June. The final statement will be submitted to the leaders of the eight major countries at their Summit on 8-10 July. Over 80 leader of the various religious confessions, from all four corners of the world, will be attending the event.
