Assisi 1982.   The political situation created by the Cold War, the development of new regional conflicts and the growth of  economic inequality between rich and poor countries, compelled all concerned people to look at the issue of war and peace.

I was urged to wonder if peace could be an achievable goal and not just a dream! Is peace possible?

At that time the issue of peace was arousing lively debates in Assisi and this led to my involvement in the founding of the International Centre for Peace among Peoples, which marked a turning point in my life.

I wrote a book, Peace, published in February 1983. It presented my intuition that Assisi should become the crossroads of peace and the place where people could gather and study peace. Assisi would be the ideal place for antagonists to meet and get to know each other better, work out plans for the good of humankind, particularly to combat world’s hunger and find solutions to the  problems related to lack of freedom.

The idea was simple, realistic and prophetic. It won the favour among a large group of people, who soon agreed to turn this idea into a project, to disseminate the initiative and  put it into action.

Thus ensued an intense period of work for peace, during which many good ideas were developed. My experience, though limited, with leaders from various countries, such as the USA, ex-URSS, and  Mozambique, which at that time was at war, encouraged me to go further. It also helped me understand that what seemed a mere utopia could work by relying on the value of dialogue and adopting new approaches.

Undoubtedly, dialogue and new attitudes have proven to be fruitful not only in politics but also wherever tension, fighting and problems exist.
I have experienced reconciliation in different contexts:  helping families to resolve differences; conducting difficult negotiations in a serene atmosphere;   and recommending  a collaborative approach  regarding economic competition.

Padre GianMaria Polidoro

It is for  anyone who feels the need to be personally involved  in working  for Peace.
Following the example given by St Francis who called each person by their first name,

and made no distinction between the leper, or cardinal, noble or peasant, where one comes from and what one’s social status is of no importance to our organization.  Among  the first followers of St. Francis were Bernardo di  Quintavalle, a wealthy man;  Pietro Cattani, a priest;  Egidio, a  farmer; Angelo di Tancredi, a noble; Giovanni delle Lodi,  a powerful  individual, and Ginepro, a very simple person. Do not ask me for the “passport” of those who are with me.

• If they are common people - welcome to common people.
• If they are politicians - welcome to politicians.
• If they are workers - welcome to workers.
• If they are employers - welcome to employers.
• If they are either good or evil - welcome to those who are good or evil, because Peace is for everyone.
• If by chance among the people around me there were any enemies, they  could not be my friends unless we met to make Peace and sat at the same table.
• Assisi Pax International is the meeting place for the friends of Peace.

MEMBERS
Membership is open to all those who take part in the life of the Association and intend to participate in its activities in compliance with the organization’s by-laws. Members are the "first supporters” and are committed to the Association. They  support the organization through financial contributions and their donation of time to carry out the organization’s various activities.

FRIENDS
Friends are those who are interested in the development of the activities of ASSISI PAX INTERNATIONAL. Even if they  are not as involved as members are, they take the Association to heart and contribute to the organization through participating in activities, financial contributions, donations of time, and hospitality. Friends can be individuals or groups such as organizations or businesses.

OUR FIELDS OF ACTIVITY:

• Any situation of war.
• Any situation of conflict.
• Conflicts at work.
• Family conflicts.
• Peace interventions in or outside the country affected by war or conflicts whenever possible.
• Raising peace awareness  through debates and conferences on themes relating to peace, such as justice, ecology, economy and  politics.

Means of communication:  website www.assisipax.org, our main instrument of information sharing and communication; personal contacts, assemblies, meetings, the press.