Hindus, Jews, Taoists and Muslims will join the pope next week for a peace pilgrimage to the Italian hilltop town of Assisi — but they won't pray together as they've done in previous peace meetings.

The Oct. 27 event marks the 25th anniversary of the first such interreligious prayer for peace that was promoted by Pope John Paul II.

Benedict didn't attend that first 1986 meeting and criticized it as a glaring example of religious relativism — the idea that all religions are somehow equal. The decision to eliminate a common, public prayer at this year's anniversary celebration was seen as Benedict's way of correcting the wrongs from the 1986 and subsequent Assisi prayer meetings.

Vatican officials outlined the day's schedule Tuesday.

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