Lahore: November 4, 2013. (PCP) “The prayer of St. Francis is associated with him because it was his initiative to go to the Muslim Sultan to extend his hand for peace”. Fr. Clarence Hayat OFM Cap, Vice provincial of the Capuchins in Pakistan said while talking to over 200 diocesan and religious males and females in formation along with the junior sisters, teachers and laity at the Loyala Hall on 9th October 2013. Topic of his power point presentation was Peace prayer of St. Francis of Assisi. He talked about the life, history of St. Francis of Assisi, his call, his efforts for peace and the history of dedicating the prayer to him of being channel of peace. Fr. Clearance expected that the prayer is to be made to the Lord to make each one to be the channel/instrument of peace for one’s own self and the entire world. In an introduction the director of Council of Interfaith Dialogue and the Rector of St. Mary’s Seminary Fr. Inayat Bernard said that Jesus Christ said in Mat.7:12, “Do to others what you want others to do to you” Does anyone want to be killed? Does anyone want to be looted? Does anyone want to be raped or to be humiliated? No not at all. If the answer is no then why nations attack other nations, cultures are imposed on the others, the families force others to follow their principles and so on. In this situation the peace is needed very much and Jesus again commands and gives this honour that blessed are those who work for peace for they will be called sons of God. For that reason the symposium of today is an effort to continue to be aware about the need of peace, then to work for peace through our talks through the usage of media and wherever and whenever we get opportunity to talk about it and work for it in a positive manner. Commenting on the presentation the vicar general for the Church of Pakistan Diocese of Raiwind Rev. Emmanuel Khohar said that we are in the era of terrorism. He said that as the peace was needed in the time of St. Francis so also it is a dire need for our country. He gave a short story that a baby fish asked her mother why can we not live on earth and the mother fish replied that the earth is made for the selfish and not for the fish. Another pastor of the same diocese Rev. Saleem Khokhar said that the prayer of St. Francis has to become our own individually and collectively at the same time then only the peace can be ensured in our world. The peace he ended has to be the part of life of each human being. Fr. Khalid Mir OFM Cap, the Rector of the capuchin said that one has to listen to the others and act accordingly. One has to give time to oneself in meditation and in silence to be able to understand the importance of peace and become active to promote peace while looking patiently on whole creation. Francis is the herald of peace and his prayer is important for peace in the world. Mufti Syed Ashiq Hussain, head of the New Era Madrisa in Gulberg said that like St. Francis our beloved Fr. Francis Nadeem OFM Cap is the herald of peace among different religions in Pakistan. He said that through such programs, he is spreading the light of peace. Looking at the current situation of the country Ashiq Hussain said that the prayer for peace is very important. We need to spend time in prayer and prayer especially for peace in Pakistan. He referred to the three bomb blasts in Peshawar. He asked the audience to pray for the victims of All saints church on 22nd September then on 26th on the government servants and people shopping in the Qasa Khawni Bazar. Amjad Niamat the chaplain of United Christian Hospital said that peace has to start from one’s own self. He appreciated the step of St. Francis to go to the Sultan for dialogue for peace. He stressed that the CIFD members should follow the footsteps of St. Francis to bring message of peace to their faiths. Pir Shafat Rasool, chairman of CIFD and head of Bilal Markaz near Jallo Park said that the life and teaching of St. Francis affected him after watching at the presentation of the evening. He said that the common reality is found in the life of the mystics and St. Francis who is a symbol of real peace. Informing the participants that the message of peace to Sultan ul Kamil (grandson of Sultan Salahudin Ayubi) was so impressive that the Sultna was almost Christian and was taken up to stop war and work for peace among both Christians and Muslims involved in the crusades. He ended by saying that the material used for building a bridge and a wall is the same but the bridge brings people closer while the wall separates human beings. St. Francis played the role of a bridge and we are also invited to do the same. Peace has to be brought in life through action and only through words of by lips. Fr. Francis Nadeem OFM Cap the organizer and coordinator of Council for Interfaith Dialogue thanked the speaker, those participants and the guests. He asked the audience to put a request to the vice provincial to get his research printed in a booklet and more people can benefit in Urdu and become the channels of peace. He said that the work of the council is precisely to bridge the gaps between the people of different faiths and concepts. This Symposium was organized by Council for Interfaith Dialogue in which a good number of Muslims were also present.