Rome, February 27, 2004

Very Rev. Archimandrite Demetri Kantzavelos
Chancellor, Metropolis of Chicago
President, Illinois Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

Dear Father,

We were very honoured to receive your kind and fraternal message.

For a long time within the campaign against the death penalty in the world, we have been following all the efforts of the Illinois Coalition and other organizations which led Governor Ryan to impost a moratorium and to overturn many death sentences.

It is just on February 1st and 2nd 2000, to celebrate that historical event in Illinois, that we decided to light up the Colosseum in Rome and by this gesture we intended to participate to your celebration for so many lives saved.

As you know, in order to keep on celebrating the similar good events which take place every year all over the world (abolitions, moratoria, commutations, etc.), we supported, as well, the foundation of the World Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty as well as the birth of the new movement of cities, "The Cities for Life". This movement would like to make public their commitment in favour of life and against the death penalty by, and particularly on Nov. 30th (this year it was the second edition), enlightening a symbolic and meaningful monument with a special light.

Last year 128 cities participated in the initiative. We are happy to see that this good spirit of reconciliation is spreading more and more, gaining a growing number of friends and cities.

We really hope the next year many cities in Illinois may join us, by means of your example.

We know well the spirit of peace which pervades your pastoral activity as well as the tireless action of the Organization that you represent and lead.

We feel really close with our hearth, our Christian solidarity and human sympathy to your efforts in the research for peace and justice, in the defense of Life, Creature and Image of God.

Particularly on the occasion of the celebration of March 1st , in which you celebrate the World Abolition Day, remembering all the victims of executions in the world and wishing and praying Our Lord so that one day the death penalty -- last heritage of the Middle Ages -- may be abolished all over the world, we intend to express all our fraternal closeness and spiritual participation, also by means the short message enclosed herewith.

We hope that our friendship may give soon good fruits of peace and reconciliation and we wish that we can find the possibility to meet with mutual visits and to develop and strengthen our friendship in the name of Jesus Christ.

Thank you for your prayers and. support in reconciliation.

Yours Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. Marco Gnavi
Community of Sant'Egidio