A report of the October 14th World Peace Blessing by Michael Balcomb

1. World Peace Blessing World Peace Blessing and UPF ConferenceOctober 14 2009, Seoul and Cheonan, Korea

2. The World Peace Blessing A crowd of more than 40,000 (20,000 couples) filled the grounds of the Sun Moon University Asan Campus two hours from Seoul.

3. The World Peace Blessing The couples ranged from newly-weds in their early twenties to couples rededicating their vows after over fifty years of marriage.

4. The World Peace Blessing Congratulatory remarks from His Excellency Alfred Moisiu, former President of Albania, and a traditional Buddhist benediction.

5. The World Peace Blessing Blessing prayers from Prithpal Sing Khalsa (Sikhism) andthe Hon. SayedIshaqGailani (Islam)

6. The World Peace Blessing Rev. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon, officiators of the Blessing in their capacity as True Parents, greet the assembled blessing candidates.

7. The World Peace Blessing Rev. and Mrs. Moon offer the blessing prayer, asking God for His unchanging and eternal love and protection for all the couples.

8. The World Peace Blessing Mr. Parvez and Mrs. ElluManzoor of Stockholm, Sweden, rededicating their vows after thirty-five years of marriage

9. The World Peace Blessing The Hon. GobalakrishnanNagapan, MP, and Mrs. VasanthiRamalingam of Malaysia celebrate after the Blessing.

10. The World Peace Blessing The newly blessed former first couple of Sierra Leone, the Hon. Alhaji Ahmad Kabbah and Mrs. IsatuJabbieKabbah.

11. The World Peace Blessing Several of the more than 250 ILC participants pose for a photo shortly after renewing their vows in the World Peace Blessing.

12. The World Peace Blessing Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Chung Hwan Kwak share with Madam Gayatri Nepal, first lady of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.

13. The World Peace Blessing Fireworks and confetti bring the Blessing to a joyful close

14. The World Peace Blessing Couples from 190 nations attended the blessing, which was covered by newspapers, television and online media throughout the world.

15. The World Peace Blessing The Universal Peace Federation hosted a conference on “The Significance of Marriage and Family for Peace in the 21st Century.”

16. The World Peace Blessing ILC Speakers from top left: Hamilton Greene, Hwang Sun-jo, Nichiko Yoshida, Sra. Graciela Rompani de Pacheco, Mdm. Gayatri Nepal

17. The World Peace Blessing The Hon. and Mrs. Ezekiel Joseph; (St. Lucia) and Sra. Rompano de Pacheco, former first lady of Uruguay, among the ILC participants.

18. The World Peace Blessing Amb. Mohammed Sayeed of Pakistan, former Prime Minister HeikkiLatvanen of Finland and Sandy and Joel Toribiong of Palau.

19. The World Peace Blessing Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon shares from his text, “Owner of Peace, Owner of Lineage” outlining his vision for God’s coming kingdom.

20. The World Peace Blessing Dr. Thomas Walsh introduces Rev. Hyung Jin Moon, who welcomes the UPF delegates to a special session at the Peace Palace

21. The World Peace Blessing Congress Nelson Marquezelli (Brazil) with UPF Brazil’s Boubacar and Linda Diallo during a break at the leadership conference.

22. CONGRATULATIONS!