Grand Shiite Jaafarite Mufti Sheikh Ahmed Qabalan left for the Vatican at the head of an Islamic delegation on Tuesday to attend an interreligious prayer for peace.

Grand Shiite Jaafarite Mufti Sheikh Ahmed Qabalan left for the Vatican at the head of an Islamic delegation on Tuesday to attend an interreligious prayer for peace.

The visit comes in response to an invitation by Pope Benedict XVI to take part in the 25th anniversary of the first such prayer.

The interreligious prayer will be held on Thursday in Italy’s hilltop town of Assisi and will include representatives from the Hindu, Jewish, Taoist and Muslim faiths.

Over 50 Islamic representatives are expected to attend the talks from several countries, including Saudi Arabia and Iran.

But the different faiths won't pray together at the peace pilgrimage because the pope doesn't want to show different beliefs and rituals mixing.

At the end of the day of talks, the main participants will renew their commitment to peace in the square in front of St. Francis' Basilica.

A burning torch will be symbolically presented to the delegations in the hope that they will take the message back with them to their communities.

The first interreligious prayer for peace was promoted by Pope John Paul II and held in the town known for its native son St. Francis in 1986.