On May 18 in Verona, Pope Francis will participate in the “Arena of Peace 2024”, where he will meet and dialogue with various realities of civil society, associations and movements present in Italy. A representation of faithful from the diocese of Savona-Noli, including Pax Christi representatives, will also attend the event.
“The project takes up the experience of the ‘Arenas of Peace’ of the 80s and 90s and was born from the recognition that the scenario of a piecemeal third world war, which the Holy Father speaks of several times, is concrete and dramatic – explains brother Antonio Soffientini, coordinator of the organizational secretariat – Hence the urgency to seriously question how peace can be understood in today’s context and what processes can be undertaken to build it”.
The invitation to participate is addressed to all people and associations who wish to make their contribution by reflecting on the difficult situation of our time but also trying to find new paths based on non-violence. In recent weeks, many have been working on the five chosen areas: peace and disarmament, environment, migration, work, economy and finance, democracy and rights. They will be shared on May 17th at the Verona Fair.
On November 26th in Savona and Cogoleto the Comboni missionary Father Alex Zanotelli made public the preparation of the “Arena of Peace”. In recent days, knowing that there will also be a participation from the diocese of Savona-Noli, he sent his thoughts: “I remind everyone of Don Tonino Bello’s speech in 1989, when he shouted ‘On your feet, builders of peace! ‘ and so he translated the Beatitudes. We have carried out several ‘Arenas’, it was time for us to return to this adventure: we need to open our hearts to the world and change a system of death. It is important to come together and find ourselves: people must get together to shout for life. This ‘Arena’, which takes place on the eve of Pentecost, must be a breath of the Spirit”.
Liliana Zaccarelli of the San Benedetto al Porto community of Genoa also took part in the same edition, and did not forget the involvement of Don Tonino Bello and Father David Maria Turoldo. “After so many years, I am well aware of their strength – he comments – Now, as then, we still have to believe that each of us can be an architect in building peace. Don Tonino and Father David had invited us to raise our heads and look for ways by looking within ourselves Participating in the ‘Arena’ this year means believing that we can all change together.”
