About 800 years ago, St. Francis held a historic dialogue with a Muslim Sultan that is remembered today as a pivotal moment that demonstrated the power of building friendships across faiths for the sake of peace and mutual understanding. In 1986, Pope John Paul II held the historic World Day of Prayer and Peace in Assisi, bringing together the leaders of the world’s many faiths for the development of fellowship and interfaith harmony. This gave expression to a new form of interfaith engagement – prayer, in publicly visible gestures featuring religious leaders of all faiths.

Assisi’s status as an interfaith capital only grew with successive interfaith summits led by Pope John Paul II in 1993 and 2002. In 2011, the summit was presided over by Pope Benedict. Pope Francis continued this tradition in 2016. Now, the Global House of Friendship and Hope will officially enshrine this tradition of peace through the power of sight, sound, prayer and togetherness.

The Porziuncola (little portion), housed in the of Basilica Santa Maria Degli Angeli (St. Mary of the Angels), is the most important Church in St. Francis’ life. Here he founded the Franciscans. Here he received Clare of Assisi and founded the Second Order of the Poor Ladies – the Poor Clares.

Adjoining this humble sanctuary, already dear to Francis, the first Franciscan convent was formed. Here, St. Francis passed away, having chosen his favorite church as the place for his return to the Heavenly Father. St. Francis himself pointed out the Porziuncola as a primary source of inspiration and a model for all his followers. Today, it is renowned as one of the world’s most important holy sites, from where inspiring messages of interfaith harmony have emanated under the leadership of several Popes over the past four decades.

The Global House of Friendship and Hope will be located in a strategic position that expresses the closeness of its vision to the Saint. The present Hotel Porziuncola is located facing the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. It features direct views onto the Basilica. Visitors to the Basilica will see the Global House from across the plaza that serves all tourists and locals and is a major local gathering place, which is active day and night. The unparalleled situation is as symbolic as it is promising in terms of expected high visibility and high visitor traffic.

The Global House of Friendship and Hope comes at a special moment not only for the global interfaith movement but also for Assisi. Its launch is envisioned as part of a series of celebrations marking 800 years of the death of the Saint of Assisi. Assisi authorities involved in planning this important Centenary welcome the Global House of Friendship and Hope as an important gift that delivers to the world a significant aspect of the spirituality of the “poor man” of Assisi.