(New York, 17 April 2008)—Leadership from Religions for Peace will be among the multi-faith delegations visiting with Pope Benedict XVI on his mission to the United States.

The Very Rev. Leonid Kishkovsky, Moderator of Religions for Peace, will be among the religious leadership participating in an ecumenical prayer service on Friday, 18 April, at St. Joseph’s Church in Manhattan. Members of Protestant and Orthodox Churches will attend the service.

Ms. Masako Fukata presents the Pope with the bronze bellOn Thursday, three representatives from Religions for Peace personally presented gifts representing different faiths to the Pope at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, DC, at a multi-faith celebration: Mr. Arvind Vora, Chairperson of Interreligious Affairs, Federation of Jain Associations in North America and Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed, National Director, The Islamic Society of North America, both Executive Council members of Religions for Peace–USA; and Ms. Masako Fukata, a member of Rissho Kosei-kai in the United States and a volunteer youth leader of Religions for Peace–International. Also personally greeting the Pope was Dr. Uma Mysorekar, President of the Hindu Temple Society of North America and member of Religions for Peace-USA. Others welcoming the Pope included Mrs. Judith Hertz, World Council member of Religions for Peace, and Rev. Kyoichi Sugino, Director of Inter-religious Council Development and Field Coordination at Religions for Peace–International.

The gifts were symbolic of the world’s different faiths and included a silver menorah (Judaism); a copy of the Qur’an (Islam); a metallic cube representing the principles of non-violence (Jainism); a brass incense burner (Hinduism); and a bronze bell (Buddhism).

“The occasion of the Pontiff’s visit to the United States presents an unique opportunity to open doors among all faith communities,” said Dr. William F. Vendley, Secretary General of Religions for Peace. “At no other moment in history has it been more critical for believers of different faiths to cooperate together for peace. The Pontiff represents the extraordinarily powerful role that religious leaders and communities of faith can play in public life. Religions for Peace is deeply honored to help welcome Pope Benedict XVI to the vibrant diversity of our country and work together to build peace.”