by Masuo Nezu

These are personal reminiscences about the late founder Rev. Nikkyo Niwano from his former chief secretary, Masuo Nezu, now in retirement. During his years of service, the writer accompanied Rev. Niwano on dissemination tours, interreligious cooperation activities, and peace promotion work, both in Japan and overseas. This series recalls not only heartwarming episodes from the founder's everyday life, but also the spiritual insights derived from his words and deeds.

25

I Admire the Efforts You All Are Making--
Meeting with Dr. Gustav Heineman, then President of West Germany

In the summer of 1972, the next important world figure whom Founder Niwano met was Dr. Gustav Heineman, then president of West Germany, at his official residence in Bonn.

As a possible venue for the Second World Assembly of the World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP II), the United States, Europe, and Africa had been proposed. Among them, Europe had a centuries-long history of Christianity divided into two streams, Catholicism and Protestantism, and also the long East-West confrontation between the socialist countries and democratic countries was still in effect at that time. The symbol of this was the divided city of Berlin.

On August 16, 1972, as the representatives of the WCRP, Rev. Nikkyo Niwano and Dr. Dana M. Greeley (left) met with West Germany's President Gustav Heineman (right) at his official residence in Bonn and discussed the possibility of holding its World Assembly in his country.

The WCRP hoped to hold its Second World Assembly in Berlin. With that expectation in mind, Rev. Niwano, Dr. Greeley, and a few other WCRP officers visited President Heinemann.

Before his inauguration, the West German president had been a leader of a Protestant denomination and was very enthusiastic about movements for world peace. Turning his kind eyes to the top leaders of the WCRP, he listened attentively to their explanation about WCRP I in Kyoto in 1970 and their expectations for the Second Assembly.

"That really sounds like a historic conference that was held in Kyoto" Mr. Heinemann told them. "I admire the efforts you all have been making."

He then ventured as his personal opinion, "As the venue for WCRP II, where religious leaders from all over the world are to gather for peace, Berlin would be a most appropriate place."

The allotted time of 30 minutes for the meeting passed in what seemed like an instant and actually twice that much time was allowed. This was quite exceptional for such a meeting with the president.

This was long before the reunification of the two Germanys, of course, and the brutal act of terrorism that had unexpectedly occurred at the Munich Olympics threatened new dangers. As a result, WCRP II was not held in Berlin. However, the encounter with President Heinemann, a distinguished gentleman who had more the air of a man of religion than of a statesman, was one that greatly impressed Rev. Niwano.

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