Global Policy Forum

By William M. Reilly

A colorful and loud tattoo of traditional Taiko Japanese drums and a moving gospel rendition of "Amazing Grace" by Hope Campbell Owens of the United House of Prayer for all People Monday opened the U.N. summit of religious and spiritual leaders. Following opening invocations in the General Assembly Hall, which included "Blowing of the Conch," by Swami Bua, "An Inca Blessing" by Q'ero Elders from Peru and "Call to Prayer" by Sheikh Ahmed Tijani Ben Omar," prayers were recited from representatives of scores of religions. More than 50 religions were represented at the conclave.

When Tibetan monks, minus the dalai lama, were introduced they were roundly applauded. China balked at the anticipated presence of the spiritual leader and he declined to attend the U.N. session. Pope John Paul II also was not present, but officials cited his poor health. The two leaders were represented by other members of their religions.

The World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders was organized by an independent group of people active in the inter-faith non-governmental organization community and sponsored in part by Ted Turner, the Time-Warner honcho and U.N. benefactor.

The secretary-general of the summit is Bawa Jain, an Indian native living in New Jersey, and a member of the Jain faith. The various prelates sought blessings on the meeting and its participants in several languages. Some sang. Some chanted. Most wore traditional vestments bathing the hall in an even greater variety of dress than in General Assembly meetings.

There were reverends and most reverends, eminences and excellencies, venerables, rabbis and priests and those addressed as his or her "Holiness." There were Hindus and Muslims, Christians and Jews, Buddhists and Shintoists, Zororastians, Sikhs and Taoists, traditional African and Native American religions represented and included one traditional holy man in full-feathered warbonnet. The summit was called to identify ways that the world's religious and spiritual leaders can work together to support U.N. initiatives for peace. After Tuesday's session at the United Nations, at which U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan was to address the conclave, the meeting will continue for two more days at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel. CNN reported the dalai lama would attend those last two days but that could not immediately be confirmed.

At its windup, a Declaration for World Peace and plans for the establishment of an ongoing International Advisory Council of Religious and Spiritual Leaders was to be established to serve the United Nations in conflict resolution and prevention efforts.

Asked Monday about the absence of the Tibetan leader, Annan told reporters, "It would have been preferable if everybody were here, but I think that to have three representatives of the Dalai Lama participate along with another thousand religious leaders in this house to talk about peace, to talk about the role religion can plan in our search fore peace I think is progress and I hope that it will help peace processes around the world, through their prayer, through their work and what they do when they go back to their own communities."

Last week, he said, "I personally believe that having a thousand religious leaders here next week talking about peace, talking about our world and praying for all of us and praying for peace is progress."

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