Assisi Prayer Gathering Marks 40 Years of Dialogue

Pope Leo XIV is carrying forward the interreligious legacy of the 1986 Assisi peace gathering, whose “Spirit of Assisi” has been renewed by successive popes and calls faith communities to resist hatred and violence. His formation at Chicago’s Catholic Theological Union placed him in a post-Vatican II environment that emphasized innovation and practical ministry. In diplomacy, Leo has maintained the Vatican’s engagement with China and its bishop-appointment agreement while Taiwan–Holy See ties have continued to deepen through meetings and exchanges. He has also urged religious communities to use charity to heal social divisions and uphold human dignity, especially for people in need.