This year, the grand Symphony of Peace Prayers ceremony at Fuji Sanctuary, as well as all local in-person ceremonies and gatherings, were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Instead, on May 17, the SOPP brought people around world together in prayer through a live-stream video presentation.
From Australia to Argentina, Poland to the Philippines, peace-loving people tuned in to the live stream broadcast and joined thousands of others in prayers for peace and interfaith harmony. The ceremony included welcoming messages from the chairperson and president of host organization Byakko Shinko Kai, peace prayers from various world religions, prayers for peace in each county, a prayer of gratitude to nature, and messages and songs from guests Nimo Patel and James Twyman, and an update on activities around the Fuji Declaration.
For details of the event, please see the SOPP 2020 page.
In addition, a small number of online SOPP gatherings also took place, with three based in Italy and one based in France. Using video conferencing software, participants joined in praying the prayers of various religious and spiritual traditions, and together offered prayers for peace throughout the world.
SOPP online gathering based in Italy, May 17, 2020
A complete report on the SOPP events in 2020 will be available in our Archives in the coming weeks.