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Mediterranean youth gather for peace meeting in southern Italy
Young people from across the Mediterranean are meeting in southern Italy from 10 to 14 August for the eleventh edition of the ‘Carta di Leuca’, an international initiative promoting dialogue and fraternity.
Vatican News
Italy’s southern Puglia region is hosting five days of encounter, prayer and reflection dedicated to peace in the Mediterranean.
From the 10th to the 14th of August, young peopple from different cultures and religions will be gathering in Santa Maria di Leuca, on shores of the Mediterranean, for the eleventh edition of “Carta di Leuca”, on the theme: “A Mediterranean of peace for a world at peace – Beauty, Art and Peace”.
Established in 2016, the annual gathering aims to bring young people from some of the various shores of the Mediterranean to help form concrete commitments to peace.
Amongst those partipating this year are young people from Cyrpus and Jerusalem, along with young Italians involved in Caritas and other partner organisations. The gathering is open to people aged 18 to 35.
Healing wounded relationships
This year’s programme draws inspiration from Cardinal Pierbattista Bizzaballa’s pastoral letter: They returned to Jerusalem with great joy.
During the first three days of the event, volunteers will lead workshops in which they address wounded relationships, the richness of differences, the importance of welcoming others, healing memories and building hope.
Those taking part will also meet with local communities and walk the final few kilometres of the Via Francigena, towards the Sanctuary of Santa Maria de Finibus Terrae, which is a place traditionally regarded as a meeting poing between East and West.
The discussions that take place throughout the gathering will contribute to the drafting of the Carta di Leuca 2026, which will be signed at the end of the meeting.
The initiative follows in the spiritual footsteps of Venerable Don Tonino Bello, the former Bishop of Molfetta-Ruvo-Giovinazzo-Terlizzi, who made peace, nonviolence and solidarity with the poor central to his ministry.
Cardinal Pizzaballa to meet participants
Cardinal Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, is scheduled to arrive in the region on the 13th of August. He is scheduled to visit the Cardinal Panico Hospital and the Casa di Betania hospice in Tricase, where he is also due to celebrate Mass. Later he will join the participants in the event as they arrive in the Basilica of Santa Maria de Finibus Terrae.
The Latin Patriarch will then travel to Alessano to pray at the tomb of Don Tonino Bello. During the night of 13–14 August, participants will hold a prayer vigil at that same tomb before setting out on a pilgrimage to the sanctuary in Leuca.
The new Carta di Leuca will be proclaimed at 7am on the 14th and Cardinal Pizzaballa will preside over the concluding Mass in the square outside the basilica.
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