Monday 26 October 2026. Faith leaders, school students and multicultural communities will gather at St Monica’s Cathedral tomorrow, Tuesday 27 October, as the Catholic Diocese of Cairns marks the 40th anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Peace.
The interfaith gathering will commemorate Pope John Paul II’s historic 27 October 1986 meeting in Assisi, Italy, with representatives of Christian churches and other world religions.
Members of the public are welcome to attend the interfaith gathering at St Monica’s Cathedral from 10 am to 11 am on Tuesday 27 October. A shared meal and community fellowship will follow on the Cathedral veranda until noon.
Religious and multicultural communities across Far North Queensland have been invited to take part, alongside civic representatives and primary and secondary students from schools across the Diocese.
Catholic Diocese of Cairns Executive Leader of Mission and Ministry Andrea Obeyesekere said the gathering would turn a shared hope for peace into a visible expression of unity.
“We may pray differently, worship differently and come from different cultures and traditions, but our hopes for our children, our families and a peaceful future are remarkably similar,” Ms Obeyesekere said.
“Peace doesn’t begin in distant places or around international negotiating tables alone. It begins in our own communities, in the relationships we build, the respect we show one another and the example we set for the next generation.”
Representatives of the Catholic Diocese of Cairns, local Jewish, Buddhist, Bahá’í and Orthodox communities, and the Cairns Combined Christian Ministry have confirmed their participation. They have also invited the Sikh, Hindu and Muslim communities.
Participating faith leaders have been invited to share short Statements for Peace, each drawing on the wisdom and perspective of their respective religious traditions.
The Diocese has received a positive response from schools, faith communities and multicultural groups, and will finalise participating representatives ahead of the event.
Ms Obeyesekere said young people’s participation was an important part of the gathering.
“To have our young people standing alongside faith and civic leaders sends a powerful message. We are not simply talking about peace. We are showing them what it looks like when people choose friendship, understanding and unity over division,” she said.
The gathering reflects the Diocese’s commitment to strengthening relationships, celebrating cultural and religious diversity, and contributing to a connected and compassionate Far North Queensland.
After the formal proceedings, participants will share a meal on the Cathedral veranda, continuing conversations and building connections across communities.
