In his Angelus message on January 1, Pope Benedict XVI announced that he will go to Assisi in October of this year to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Peace, convoked by Pope John Paul II on October 27, 1986. He invited leaders of other Christian communities and religious traditions to join him as a pilgrim and to commit themselves to live out their religious faith in the service of peace.

Here is the English translation of his words, which were given in Italian:

"I also noted that the year 2011 will mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Peace which the Venerable John Paul II called in Assisi, Italy, in 1986. For this reason, in the coming month of October, I will make a pilgrimage to the town of St. Francis, inviting my Christian brethren of different confessions, leaders of the world's religious traditions and, in their hearts, all men and women of good will, to join me on this journey in order to commemorate that important historical gesture of my predecessor, and solemnly to renew the commitment of believers of all religions to live their religious faith as a service to the cause of peace. Those who are journeying towards God cannot fail to transmit peace; those who build peace cannot fail to move towards God. I invite you, even now, to support this initiative with your prayers".