With the opening program being guided by emcee Dr. William Selig, Communications Director for UPF International, participants were welcomed to a banquet, entertainment and some welcoming remarks.

Dr. Thomas Walsh, President of UPF International, welcomed the participants and presented an overview of the UPF World Summit program; an address from True Mother, International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP), Interreligious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD), sessions focusing on peace in Northeast Asia and the Korean peninsula, and the introduction of the International Summit Council for Peace (ISCP).

Inspirational messages were given by Hon. Yoshinori Ohno, former Minister of Defense, Japan, who spoke about the way to bring about peace on any scale is to be open to others from different cultures and countries, and H.E. Dame Pearlette Louisy, former Governor General of Saint Lucia described the family as a school of love where the principles of peace and harmony are nurtured and developed. These messages, combined with wonderful entertainment and delicious food, culminated in an air of anticipation for the conference ahead.

The following day, the Opening Ceremony was a regal event. True Mother along with forty heads of state entered the ballroom of 1200 participants. After interfaith prayers and the national anthem performed by the Little Angels, Dr. Walsh congratulated the participants and set the tone for the conference. “We can make history,” he said, “Peace can only come when all sectors of society are engaged, particularly the religious…