September 14, 2005
Representatives of the Christian, Muslim and Jewish religions from around the world gathered the French city of Lyon this week for the 19th Sant'Egidio days of dialogue and prayer. The meetings aimed to forge solid links and find common ground between the various faiths through debates on peace. 24 separate debates were held and the meeting was concluded by a mass prayer. The religious leaders also discussed the ways of separating faith from war. Interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy and Auschwitz survivor Simone Veil were among French politicians who attended the gathering, held in France for the first time ever. Israel's chief rabbi Yona Metzger was also present. Sant'Egidio is an association of Italian Catholic lay leaders founded in 1968.
