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.

26

If I Can Be of Help, Let Me Know--
Meetings with Dr. Richard von Weizsacker

A week after the meeting with President Heinemann in the summer of 1972, Founder Niwano met another distinguished German political leader.

This was Dr. Richard von Weizsacker, who later also became president of West Germany, and then after reunification, president of all Germany. This meeting was in Utrecht, Holland, where Dr. Weizsacker was attending a large convention of the World Council of Churches (WCC). It was the second time for Rev. Niwano to meet him.

The first time was in 1969 in Tokyo when Dr. von Weizsacker visited Rev. Niwano in the Great Sacred Hall at Rissho Kosei-kai headquarters.

Since he had been an enthusiastic participant in lay religious movements and in promoting cooperative activities between Catholics and Protestants, Dr. von Weizsacker felt he had much in common with what Rev. Niwano told him about the activities of Rissho Kosei-kai, as well as the idea of the World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP) aiming at interreligious cooperation for peace. At that time, he was virtually the German representative of the WCC, and naturally showed strong interest in the WCRP.

On March 20, 1969, Rev. Nikkyo Niwano had his first meeting with Dr. Richard von Weizsacker (right) in the Great Sacred Hall at Rissho Kosei-kai Tokyo headquarters.

On that occasion, he said, "I have read about the WCRP in the newspaper. Please tell me more about its World Assembly. And if there is anything I can do to be of help with it, please let me know."

Rev. Niwano responded, "Now is the time that religious people of the world can exert their cooperative strength for peace. When we reflect on the events of World War II, the mission of Japan and Germany is especially important, I think."

Rev. Niwano drew closer to Dr. von Weizsacker and spoke passionately as he handed printed materials about the WCRP to him. Their meeting in Utrecht for the second time took place three years after this. WCRP I had already borne historic fruit and there was strong participation in it by German religious leaders. As the meeting this time took place on the way to the Second World Assembly, it stands to reason that the conversation became very lively.

Twelve years later, in 1984, Dr. von Weizsacker became president. The following year was the fortieth anniversary of the end of World War II. On that occasion, the president addressed the Federal Parliament in Bonn. Referring to Germany's responsibility for World War II, he made the following moving statement that received wide attention around the world. "Those who close their eyes to the past are also blind to the present."

His term as president continued through 1994, during which time East Germany and West Germany ended their separation of nearly fifty years and achieved a peaceful, historic reunification. Not only among the German people, but also among world leaders in many fields, Dr. von Weizsacker is highly regarded as an excellent president whose name will go down in history.