Under the motto "thirst for peace" representatives of nine different faiths gather in Assisi during these days, the hometown of Saint Francis to pray together for world peace at the symbolic place and to explore the role of religions in the world conflict.

Until Tuesday over 500 religious leaders, politicians, Nobel peace laureate, scientists, journalists and activists meet in around 30 panel sessions in the medieval town in Umbria.

Main priorities of this year's meeting are primarily the (religious) conflicts in the Middle East, particularly in Aleppo, Tunisia, Israel, Iraq, Africa and India. Other topics include the coexistence of religions, the right to food and drinking water, information or missing information in conflict reporting as well as migration and integration.

After Pope John Paul II had invited the faith communities to the peace meeting for the first time 30 years ago, the acting Pope Francis will travel to Assisi tomorrow, in the city of his patron saint to call for world peace.