Cardinal Roger Etchegaray notes that Pope John Paul II coined this memorable expression: "the Spirit of Assisi." What happened forty years ago at Assisi was unique and extraordinary; nothing like this has ever happened in the history of the world or the Church. At Pope John Paul II's invitation, leaders of various religious and spiritual traditions gathered at Assisi on October 27, 1986. Together they prayed for peace, and their prayer echoed in the hills and on the plains where Saint Francis of Assisi once sang 'Make me a channel of your peace,' and guided his followers to hum it, slowly.

Recall that Pope John Paul II came from Poland, a country that suffered much during the wars and between them, and Communism took away the little freedom they had. He himself suffered and witnessed the violence that manifested externally but had its roots in human hearts.

If violence has roots in human hearts, we need to discover seeds in those very hearts—seeds to sow peace—John Paul II imagined. To foster unity, we first need to recognise that we are brothers and sisters. Leaders of the nations often gather, but spiritual leaders do not. Bringing them together and helping them realise and proclaim that we are one family, that we must shun violence and promote peace, was a worthy cause in itself, according to the Pope.

John Paul II had the audacity to visualise and actualise this. Who were all there at Assisi? Besides Christian leaders, representatives from Buddhism and Jainism, Hinduism and Sikhism, Islam and Sufism, and various other religious and spiritual traditions, indigenous or modern, were there. In those iconic 1986 pictures, you can see the Dalai Lama and Hindu gurus standing next to the Pope. The images were impressive, and they went viral.

Leaving aside the doctrinal differences (which are real and need to be respected and upheld), one can see the beginning of a new era: that the leaders of diverse religions can gather and actively promote peace.

Whoever we are and wherever we live, realising that we all are God's sons and daughters was refreshing and revitalising. Acknowledging and respecting the dignity of all, and respecting (not merely tolerating) others' religious and spiritual views, was revolutionary. That day, those who came to Assisi separately left together, united in the spirit of Francis, as sojourners and sowers of peace. What was unimaginable a hundred years ago was dramatically realised at Assisi, in the Spirit of Assisi, thanks to Pope John Paul II's initiative.

To mark the 40th anniversary of this event, Pope Leo XIV strongly wanted to be there, standing shoulder to shoulder with global spiritual leaders and renewing the call for peace. On doctors' advice, he cannot be in Assisi but joins in spirit. The Community of Sant'Egidio is organising the event, which is titled 'Unarmed and Disarming Peace.' Reportedly, 384 representatives of religions, cultures, and institutions from 53 countries are participating.

Indian Christians live in multireligious, multicultural contexts, and we should all remember, celebrate, and promote the 'Spirit of Assisi.' Religions and spiritualities are not abstract realities but lifelines (despite their distortions) for millions. All of them have imperfections, and we can disagree with what others hold, but we must respect them and acknowledge the values and virtues they live by.

It is critical to overcome fear, fear of others and their religious practices. We have family members and friends, teachers and neighbours, workers and collaborators who belong to other spiritual traditions. I will be poorer if I know nothing about others or their religions, what gives them meaning, why they live morally upright lives, and what stories they have to share!

Listening and sharing enrich us all, while we continue to remain rooted in our traditions. Moreover, by fostering deep friendships, we can actively promote peace, a gift the world urgently needs.