PRESS RELEASE: HOPE80: WWII Descendants Recreate Abbey Road Photo After Papal Blessing to Promote Global Peace on way to Glastonbury Festival
- lawrencelefcort
- Jun 23
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 24
LONDON, UK – Just days after receiving a blessing from Pope Leo, the HOPE80 international peace delegation—comprising descendants of World War II leaders—gathered at London’s iconic Abbey Road zebra crossing to recreate the famous Beatles photo in a symbolic moment of global reconciliation.
The delegation includes:
Tushar Gandhi, great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi
Lucy Sandys, great-granddaughter of Sir Winston Churchill
Clifton Truman Daniel, grandson of U.S. President Harry S. Truman
Hidetoshi Tojo, great-grandson of Prime Minister Hideki Tojo
Jennifer Teege, granddaughter of Nazi commander Amon Göth
The event, titled “Illuminating the Path to Peace: Soul Music and the Flame of Hope’s Global Journey”, linked music, memory, and healing. The recreated photo marks a defining visual moment of the HOPE80 Peace Pilgrimage, which began in Vatican City and will continue to Glastonbury Festival, Jerusalem, New York, Hiroshima, and Osaka World Expo.
The Flame of Hope – A Fire Born from Compassion
The Flame of Hope, carried throughout the journey, was conceived in prayer in 2014 by Japanese healer and peace visionary Ryokyu Endo. While visiting Palestine, Ryokyu met a nine-year-old boy who had just lost both his legs in a bombing. Deeply moved, he wept and prayed—and in that moment, the mission was born: "May no child ever suffer like this again."
The Flame of Hope is a sacred fire created from 16 historic peace flames, including:
Embers from the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb
The Eternal Flame of Jesus in Jerusalem
The Kiezu-no-hi Flame in Japan, burning continuously for over 1,200 years
Today, this flame carries over 400,000 prayers, including those of His Holiness Pope Leo and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. It now burns eternally in Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, and will soon be lit in Bethlehem, with the hope that one day it will shine in Mecca.
Pope Leo’s Blessing
During the General Audience at the Vatican on June 18, Pope Leo addressed the delegation publicly:
“My special greeting goes to the members of the HOPE80 international delegation…May the light of divine love and fraternity always burn brightly in the hearts of the men and women of our one human family.”
He also condemned the escalation of war in Ukraine, Iran, Israel, and Gaza, adding:
“War is always a defeat. Nothing is lost with peace. Everything can be with war.”
📍Upcoming Highlights:
June 24 – Press Conference at UK Parliament, Portcullis House, Room R, 12:30 PM
June 26 – Opening Glastonbury Festival, Pyramid Stage Weds 25th June and lighting fires with The Peace Flame in the Kings Meadow.
Daily prayer offerings at the Peace Dome, King’s Meadow, Glastonbury
Sept 21 – Osaka Expo, on UN International Day of Peace
A Movement for All
The HOPE80 delegation walks under the banner:“Yesterday’s enemies are today’s friends.”This historic pilgrimage is made possible with the support of RePeace, The Memnosyne Institute, and many global partners. The Flame of Hope invites all to contribute their prayers at Glastonbury and beyond.
High-resolution images of the Abbey Road and Pope Leo moment available on request
Photo by Magnus Dennis https://magnusdennis.com/
You are invited to U.K. Parliament on Tuesday, June 24th at 12:30 PM at Portcullis House, Room R.
Media contact:Dana Amma Day
Press Representative – HOPE80 | Positive TV
+44 7742 449395
Social: @flameofhope_net
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