by Masuo Nezu

When it was decided to establish the WCRP, the first international preparatory committee meeting for that purpose was held in Dedham, Massachusetts, near Boston, in 1969. Following that meeting, the founder extended his "Peace Pilgrimage" to Europe. His third opportunity to meet with Pope Paul VI came on that trip, on July 30 at Castel Gandolfo, the summer residence of the pope in a Rome suburb.

Rev. Niwano earnestly explained to the pope the goal of the WCRP, and the leader of the Roman Catholic church replied, "Your contributions for peace and justice are greatly appreciated."

At the end of the meeting, the pope said to his aide, "I would like to thank him in Japanese." Upon learning that the appropriate word was arigato, Pope Paul VI spoke it sincerely to the founder and warmly shook his hand.

While attending two international conferences in the United States, Rev. Niwano's health had taken a turn for the worse and the strain of his extended visit to Europe caused those around him to worry. As if the pope understood this, his words of appreciation seemed to be directed to the founder's single-minded determination to devote his efforts to world peace.

The Second World Assembly of the WCRP was held in Leuven, Belgium in 1974. After the assembly had ended, the Japanese delegation visited the Vatican. This became the occasion for Rev. Niwano's fourth meeting with Pope Paul VI, on September 5, again at Castel Gandolfo. At the start of the meeting, Rev. Niwano expressed the deepest appreciation for the papal message to the WCRP Assembly and reported on the assembly's successful results.

After that, the pope took the initiative, saying, "Let us silently pray for peace together." He then led an interfaith prayer for peace with all who were gathered there. This precedent-setting joint prayer signified how strong was the desire for world peace and the hope for interreligious cooperation cherished by Pope Paul VI.

That pope, who will be remembered in the modern history of world religion for his many remarkable achievements, passed away in August 1978. Rev. Niwano, by chance, was in Rome at the time. When he received the first news of the death from a reporter for the Kosei Shimbun newspaper stationed in Rome, even though it was the middle of the night, the founder arose and immediately began chanting the Lotus Sutra and sincerely praying for the spirit of the pope.

A papal presence at a WCRP World Assembly was realized later, in Rome at the Sixth World Assembly, with the attendance of Pope John Paul II.

This series of articles was originally published in Japanese in 2000 under the title Kaiso Zuimonki: Egao no Ushirosugata.