Bergamo, Italy—Religious representatives and academics attended an International Day of Peace event at the Paradiso Missionary Community. UPF-Italy collaborated with the Bergamo chapter of Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP), an affiliated organization, to hold the meeting on September 21, 2023. Because of bad weather, the venue had to be changed from a Tree of Peace in Bergamo to an indoor venue, the Paradiso Missionary Community.
In his welcoming remarks, UPF-Italy President Carlo Zonato referred to the theme given to the 2023 International Day of Peace by the United Nations: “Action for Peace: Our Ambition for the #Global Goals.”
This theme is a call to action that recognizes our responsibility to contribute to the realization of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Mr. Zonato said. He described the many ways in which UPF promotes interfaith and interdisciplinary cooperation to foster a culture of peace.
Giannina Figus Ravaglioli, the president of WFWP of Bergamo, highlighted the Women's Federation commitment to promoting the central role of women in building pathways to peace. She outlined the various initiatives and projects that WFWP has sponsored in support of the SDGs.
We all desire peace to improve our world, and everyone present is making their contribution, she said. However, we need to identify a common project at the local level through which we can meet again to discuss and define the initiative.
There followed speakers from many different backgrounds: Pastor Sammy Tetteh of the Christ Victory Church evangelical community; Marwa El Joulani of the Islamic community of Bergamo; Sandro Oneda, communications manager for the Church of Scientology in the cities of Bergamo and Brescia; Don Luciano Sanvito, a Catholic priest of the Paradiso Missionary Community; and Professor Rosy Bovino, a retired teacher and avid supporter of UPF. Each speaker offered thoughts, readings, prayers and proposals dedicated to peace.
