May 4, 2000

Dear Jose:

Despite the best efforts of individual religious and spiritual leaders from different parts of the world, the human family is still unable to prevent the eruption of horrible acts of war. Even at this moment terrible conflicts threaten the lives of large numbers of people in various parts of the globe. There is a growing conviction that new measures must be sought to arrest violent conflict in the years ahead.

It is for this purpose - to find new ways of preventing hostilities and ensuring peace and security - that the world's most prominent religious and spiritual leaders are being asked to gather for a Millennium World Peace summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders which will take place at the United Nations in New York beginning August 28, 2000.

On behalf of the secretariat for the Millennium World Peace Summit I write to humbly request your presence at this historic gathering and to invite you to submit a paper of between 1,000 and 1,500 words offering specific proposals relating to ways in which Religious and spiritual leaders can contribute to peace making in the world in one or more of the following areas:

1. the reduction of human and societal tensions through the elimination of poverty.
2. programs and policies for common action toward the preservation and enhancement of the environment.
3. cooperative measures for addressing the threat to peace in zones of conflict.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan will address those assembled in an opening session that will precede the General Assembly's Millennium Summit of Heads of States and Government. He has described this gathering as the first time that leaders of the religious traditions and the United Nations share a common mission: to work to improve the human condition and to seek peace and security for all the world's peoples. The Millennium Peace Summit will explore ways that religious and spiritual leaders and the United Nations can work together more closely to achieve these goals. The purpose of the Summit is twofold:

1. The first is for the religious leaders to sign a united resolution for peace at the turn of the millennium. This past century has been the most violent in the history of humanity, but there is now an upsurge of hope as the world becomes vastly more interconnected. Communications among religions is greater than ever before, and there is widespread recognition of the need to join forces if peace is to be established. Ethnic and religious differences continue to be excuses for violence and religious leaders could play a significant role in assuaging such differences. The signing of a Declaration for Peace will have practical as well as symbolic importance and serve as an inspiration.

2. The second purpose is to take the first steps toward the creation of an International Advisory Council of Religious and spiritual Leaders, a permanent body that will function as a resource for the Secretary General and the United Nations in their efforts to build a lasting peace. Regional Councils will also be formed to address and to advise on local issues.

Participation in the Summit is reserved for the most senior religious and spiritual leaders of the world's faith traditions. We are planning for the sessions and addresses to be broadcast worldwide via CNN - as well as on the Internet - so that these messages of hope can reach many tens of millions of people around the world. We are also planning for the publications of the papers presented and the addresses so that they may have a broad distribution around the world. Greater details concerning the Summit - and the full agenda and arrangements will be sent to you in the weeks ahead.

Your participation in the assembly is the key for its success.

Please accept my personal assurance of our highest esteem.

Kind regards,