Writers' Contest to Pay Tribute to John Paul II

By Miriam Díez i Bosch

ROME, JAN. 14, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Poets and writers inspired by Pope John Paul II's idea of hope are invited to compete in an international contest aiming to pay tribute to the Polish Pontiff.

The "International Contest on Poetry and Narrative 'Crossing the Threshold of Hope': A Tribute to John Paul II" is accepting contributions in any language until Feb. 28. The contest is sponsored by the Italy-based Vintar Center of Studies for Culture and Communication.

The contest was further motivated by Benedict XVI's encyclical "Spe Salvi" (Saved in Hope).

Umberto Tarsitano, communications professor and president of the Vintar Center, told ZENIT that after the publication of Benedict XVI's last encyclical, the need for a "serious study about this [theme] gave us the push to propose this prize as a cultural reflection."

He added that the contest inspired by John Paul II aims "to continually stimulate the cultural commitment to influence and give flavor to society."

Information about the contest can be found in Italian at http://www.agendaitaliana.it/.