Magazine

John Paul II Foundation / Magazine (Page 3)

On Saturday, June 8, at the Bishop's Seminary in Fiesole, we had the honor of presenting the book "Pilgrim of Peace" by Father Ibrahim Faltas. This book collects the Franciscan's writings published in the John Paul II Foundation's magazine Colloquia Mediterranea, as well as a selection of his emails sent to friends over the years. A Journey between Italy and the Middle East Through the pages of this book, Father Faltas shares accounts of his many trips to Italy and the Middle East, offering profound reflections not only on the foundation's projects, but also on the realities of populations and lands among the most beautiful and troubled in the world. Indeed, these regions constantly face ongoing situations of war and hardship, and Father Faltas' words give voice to these experiences with a tone of hope and faith. A Vision on Historical Complexity The pages of the book offer a view on the historical complexity of the Middle...

After a few months of pause due to complex local situations, the flow of medicines that the John Paul II Foundation and the Focolare Movement have long activated in collaboration with the Apostolic Vicariate of Beirut of the Latins, for the benefit of hundreds of Lebanese families in need, resumes. This project, essential to support the population in a period of serious crisis, is a concrete example of international solidarity. At the end of the month, in agreement with Civil and Military Cooperation (CIMIC - NATO), 6 pallets of medicines collected throughout the country will leave from Pratica di Mare military airport for Lebanon. This shipment is the result of a great collective effort, which has seen the participation of numerous local and national entities. Special thanks go to the Ministry of Defense for the reactivation of this important humanitarian channel, which is proving increasingly valuable due to the serious situation...

A presentation of the book "Pilgrim of Peace" will be held on June 8 at 5 p.m. at the seminary lecture hall in Fiesole. Pilgrim of Peace, by Father Ibrahim Faltas, collects his writings published in the journal of the John Paul II Foundation, Colloquia Mediterranea. Alongside these articles are collected here some of his e-mails sent to friends over the years about his many trips to Italy and the Middle East. Father Faltas is a tireless pilgrim, who, like St. Francis, meets and dialogues with all the people he meets. He deals with the everyday situations of life, sometimes beautiful, other times complex and delicate, such as those experienced by many people in the Middle East. His articles are short, written in a journalistic style, and we decided not to weigh them down with notes or comments precisely to keep the writings in their original freshness. They are pages that help to understand the complex situation in the Middle East, to orient the...

Today, April 25, on the occasion of Italian Liberation Day, Civitella in Val di Chiana hosts a solemn commemoration, at which Bishop Luciano Giovannetti, Honorary President of the John Paul II Foundation, is present as a witness and survivor of the horror of June 29, 1944. This event commemorates 80 years since the massacre, when Nazi-Fascist troops carried out a massacre that deeply marked the history of the community. Bishop Luciano, who lived through the horror of those days as a child, returned to his hometown to honor the memory of the victims and witness the community's determination to pursue peace and reconciliation. Alongside him, two other survivors of the massacre will join the commemoration, along with President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella. Luciano Giovannetti's personal story is intertwined with the dramatic events of Civitella. Born in the small Tuscan village, Luciano experienced the horror of the massacre up close when he was only 10 years old. Together with his mother, he...

On Thursday, April 18, 2024, a day of restitution was held at the Blue Room in Fuligno (FI). Students from 6 educational institutions - the Giovanni XXIII Institute of Terranuova Bracciolini (AR), the Galileo Galilei Technical Institute (AR), the Gramsci Scientific High School (FI), the Machiavelli Institute (FI), the Balducci Pontassieve Institute (FI), and the Galileo Galilei Scientific High School (SI) - accompanied by their teachers, illustrated their 29 projects, arousing interest, participation, and emotion as they recounted their experiences. The centerpiece of the day was an audio-video link from Jerusalem with Father Ibrahim Faltas, a class of students from Jerusalem and two teachers from Terra Sancta School. The students confronted each other, asked questions about the difficult situation those populations are experiencing-a serious and constructive dialogue that culminated in a monologue recited in Italian by a Terra Sancta School student. Bringing their greetings to the day were: Lorenzo...

Florence experienced three days of youthful energy with the Francis Live 2024 event, which attracted as many as 1,700 participants. The John Paul II Foundation took part in the event with a workshop on Saturday, April 13 at the Sala degli Otto in Palazzo Vecchio. With the theme "A Sustainable Dream," President Andrea Bottinelli along with Renato Burigana, Alessandro Martini and Maurizio Artale led a training session, offering the young people in attendance a unique opportunity to learn and share ideas....

The Mediterranean Youth Council will inaugurate its official headquarters at the Bishop's Seminary in Fiesole on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at 4 p.m. H.E. Msgr. Giuseppe Baturi, secretary of the Italian Bishops' Conference, and Ambassador Pasquale Ferrara, Director General for Political Affairs and Security of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, will speak at the inauguration. In addition, five young people will be present to represent the delegates. The office will serve as the official headquarters for the meetings of the "Mare Nostrum" network, composed of the four entities involved in the project: the Giovanni Paolo II Foundation, the Giorgio La Pira Foundation, the "Giorgio La Pira" International Center and the "Giorgio La Pira" Youth Work. The venue will be the place where the 40 delegates from more than 18 countries will meet once a year to discuss issues such as peace, interreligious dialogue and the role of youth in the political, economic and social reality of the Mediterranean. You can...

On April 4, the Mediterranean Youth Council, which came into being as a result of the 2022 Mediterranean Bishops' meetings in Florence, met in Brussels with European institutions to discuss issues concerning the future of youth, peace among peoples and interreligious dialogue. The meeting was attended by Dr. Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, Msgr. Mariano Crociata, President of the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Union, MEP Beatrice Covassi, Patrizia Giunti, President of the La Pira Foundation, 4 Youth of the Board, and Tina Hamalaya, operational secretary of the John Paul II Foundation's Mediterranean Youth Council. ...

Dear Friends of the Foundation, These days we write on our social media, on our webpage, "a safe place" for the children of Bethlehem. A few words are enough to unite us in a dilated embrace to reach out to that land and place the origin and inspiration of the Founders of the Foundation. "Place-Safe Place-Children-Bethlehem" are the cardinal points that reconfigure the space where it is still possible to experience hope mortally wounded by the terrible consequences of violence, savagery, absence of humanity in men that no century has limited (the Israel-Hamas war). The place: our Bethlehem location. A large garden area in the immediate vicinity of the historic center where the architecture of buildings bordering on beauty in form and color impose themselves and already host -for extracurricular activities- the children of Bethlehemite families. Safe: because it ensures. It has a protective function whereby one feels safe and regains a sense of tranquility, helps to leave behind the...

Rome, March 18-20, 2024 ITALIAN EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE National Office for Social Communications Permanent Council Final Communiqué- excerpt Mediterranean Youth Council. An update was presented about the activities of the Mediterranean Youth Council, a sign-work born following the Meeting of Mediterranean Bishops and Mayors (Florence, Feb. 23-27, 2022). Strongly desired and supported by the CEI, the project aims to care for the spiritual dimension, strengthen pastoral action in the face of today's challenges and build fraternal relationships. As part of the Council's work, a meeting of the Executive, accompanied by Msgr. Baturi, with Msgr. Mariano Crociata, President of the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Union, and with Dr. Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, is scheduled for April 3 and 4 in Brussels. Then, on April 16, the Council's headquarters will be inaugurated in Fiesole. Also under construction is the web portal of the Mediterranean Youth Council, where they will be...

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