{"id":408213,"date":"2026-10-16T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-16T03:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.focolare.org\/?p=408213"},"modified":"2026-10-15T21:38:40","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T19:38:40","slug":"in-sicily-italy-the-first-meeting-for-a-mediterranean-of-fraternity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.focolare.org\/en\/in-sicily-italy-the-first-meeting-for-a-mediterranean-of-fraternity\/","title":{"rendered":"In Sicily, Italy, the first meeting for a \u201cMediterranean of Fraternity\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Mediterranean, \u201cMare nostrum\u201d, or rather the sea we share, is a unique sea, almost enclosed, covering an area of approximately 3 million km\u00b2 and linking three of the world\u2019s five continents: Africa, Asia and Europe. By looking at it from a slightly different perspective, moving beyond conventional ways of seeing the region, we can imagine a continuous coastline embracing one shared sea. This is the vision conveyed, for example, in A Mediterranean without Borders<\/em>, a work by artist and cartographer Sabine R\u00e9thor\u00e9. Her map highlights the relationships and connections between peoples, erasing national borders. <\/p>\n\n

This very idea of a Mediterranean without borders inspired a dream that the conference \u201cA Mediterranean without Borders, Peoples Connected in a Network for Fraternity\u201d, which took place in Palermo from 7th -11th October 2026, sought to realize. This is the dream that Margaret Karram, President of the Focolare Movement, shared in 2023, during the Mediterranean Meetings in Marseille: “I dream of a Mediterranean of fraternity”.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n

There was great anticipation for this gathering that had been jointly conceived and organised over a period of one and a half years, by members of the Movement from several parts of the Mediterranean region: North Africa-Middle East, Eastern Europe, Western Europe and Italy-Albania. The result was a gathering of 101 people from: Spain, France, Austria, Northern Ireland, Malta, Greece, Italy, Cyprus, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia, Serbia, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, the Holy Land, Algeria and Morocco. <\/p>\n\n

We arrived full of expectations and enthusiasm for this project of a united Mediterranean, even though we had no idea how we would manage to bring it to life. At the airport, there were smiles, shy greetings in other languages between people who had never met and slightly more relaxed interactions when a common language was discovered. We travelled by coach to the venue, in a mountainous area outside the city. We were looking forward to getting to know each other, to discover the contexts in which each of us is involved and to foster new forms of collaboration. <\/p>\n\n

On Thursday morning, the proceedings began with a message from Margaret Karram, who was represented by the delegates from the various zones. Subsequently, a round table moderated by Michele Zanzucchi allowed us to explore the Mediterranean from different perspectives, with contributions from Daniele Spadaro, Pasquale Ferrara, Naji Karam and the author of this article. <\/p>\n\n

A substantial part of the conference was built around experiences of fraternity lived in our local areas that each of us brought with us. Thirteen of these were presented in plenary sessions. The areas of action ranged from education to intercultural and international cooperation, interfaith dialogue, art, sport, welcoming newcomers, inclusion and social development. <\/p>\n\n

We heard how, in Lebanon and in many other countries around the world, the \u201cLiving Peace Dice\u201d helps children to change their outlook and behaviour, building peace in their daily lives. A similar experience was shared from Zagreb, Croatia, where a primary school bears witness to peace through a day dedicated to non-violence. Another example was the Zajedno association, where peace is built through cooperation between a school, a student residence and a hospital. <\/p>\n\n

\"\"
Some of the participants at the Conference, \u201cA Mediterranean without Borders: Peoples Connected in a Network of Fraternity\u201d. Photo: Mediterranean Network of Fraternity <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

We heard how Belfast, in Northern Ireland, has become a \u201cCity of Sanctuary\u201d<\/em>, promoting a culture of welcome and supporting refugees by offering them practical opportunities for genuine integration. Similarly, the experience of volunteering with migrants in Lampedusa <\/a>was also shared. So too was the work of the Fo.Co. Cooperative <\/a>in Ragusa, which has succeeded in generating economic and social benefits through the employment of young people and migrants, fostering relationships of fraternity and good neighbourliness, developing innovative housing solutions and providing additional services for the community, without falling into the trap of creating dependency on welfare. <\/p>\n\n

There were also initiatives promoting intercultural and interfaith understanding, such as one in the Pisa area, which helped establish a participatory community pact based on reciprocity, fraternity and peaceful coexistence. This was made possible by renovating disused parish premises and putting them to new use.<\/p>\n\n

Art demonstrated its versatility in contributing to the unity of peoples, with music travelling from Sarajevo to Beirut, dancing with the academic dance workshop Harmony Among Peoples<\/a> or visiting an art gallery in the heart of Algeria. All these experiences seek to overcome the mistrust and wounds of the past by changing perspectives and creating new relationships. <\/p>\n\n

Other activities focus on cooperation between countries. In Palestine, local artisans have been supported by selling their products in Italy. A Bridge to Lebanon<\/a> and La Speranza OdV<\/a>, help provide medical care for the Lebanese population by sending medicines. The La Pira Centre<\/a> and the Mediterranean Youth Council,<\/a> offer support to young people and aim to unite cities to build a united world. <\/p>\n\n

During the event, participants attended a lecture entitled A Mediterranean without Borders<\/em>, given by the Archbishop Corrado Lorefice, Archbishop of Palermo, Luciana Pepi, a Jewish academic and Imam Akraf Aluani.<\/p>\n\n

\"\"
From left, Imam Akraf Aluani, Bishop Corrado Lorefice and Professor Luciana Pepi during the \u201cA Mediterranean Without Borders\u201d conference, Palermo, 9th October 2024. Photo: Mediterranean Network of Fraternity <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

\u201cThe Mediterranean is home to different religions, cultures and languages, all called to aim towards a single goal: encounter and dialogue. Encounter is always under threat and dialogue is not always easy. But there is no other calling or vocation than this,\u201d said the Archbishop, who warned that \u201cthere can be no processes of encounter if we are not able to look each other in the eye, because it is in the face of others that we recognise ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

For her part, Professor Pepi described how the three religions come together in Palermo and assured the audience that peaceful coexistence is possible, even if it means going against the tide.<\/p>\n\n

Finally, Aluani stressed that “Palermo has never stopped hoping and giving hope for peace”. He highlighted the role of religions in achieving peace, seeing diversity as an opportunity for growth.<\/p>\n\n

\"\"
Testimonies of fraternity at the conference, \u201cA Mediterranean without Borders: Peoples Connected in a Network of Fraternity\u201d. Photo: Mediterranean Network of Fraternity <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Alongside the formal presentations, the group work sessions, organised by subject area and language, were central. They enabled us to explore the various experiences in greater depth and to consider new synergies and opportunities for future collaboration. During breaks, too, conversations could be found everywhere, with people talking in pairs or small groups, listening attentively and with genuine interest. <\/p>\n\n

Artistic performances were a key feature of the conference, bringing the rhythms and landscapes of the different Mediterranean peoples and traditions into the room.<\/p>\n\n

At the end of the gathering, questions remained about how best to take forward the joint work and proposals that had been presented. Yet there was also a firm conviction that a laboratory of fraternity would grow from this experience. As some participants put it, \u201cThis experience has turned the paradigm upside down; this gathering is a turning point for Europe.\u201d Those who took part sensed that something new was emerging, something that needs networks to become active and expand. They left with a hopeful conviction that a Mediterranean of peace will become a masterpiece. <\/p>\n\n

Candela Copparoni<\/em>(originally published on<\/em> www.cittanuova.it)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n

Cover photo: City of Palermo, Italy – \u00a9 Mauro Reem-Itchy by Pexels<\/em><\/p>\n\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A conference entitled, \u201cA Mediterranean without Borders: Peoples Connected in a Network for Fraternity\u201d, organized by the Focolare Movement, took place in Palermo, Italy, from Wednesday 7th-Sunday 11th October.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":408214,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","_seopress_news_disabled":"","_seopress_video_disabled":"","_seopress_video":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas_manual":[],"_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable_all":"","_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas":[],"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2826,2814,2830,2844],"tags":[4543,3349,3196],"class_list":["post-408213","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cultura-2","category-dialogo-interreligioso-2","category-focolari-nel-mondo-2","category-sociale-3","tag-mediterraneo","tag-notifiche-en","tag-ppg-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.focolare.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/408213","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.focolare.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.focolare.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.focolare.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/34"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.focolare.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=408213"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.focolare.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/408213\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":408215,"href":"https:\/\/www.focolare.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/408213\/revisions\/408215"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.focolare.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/408214"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.focolare.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=408213"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.focolare.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=408213"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.focolare.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=408213"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}