Vatican to Host World Meeting on Human Fraternity

On June 10, St. Peter's Square will witness a remarkable gathering called the World Meeting on Human Fraternity, where Nobel laureates, Grammy-winner Andrea Bocelli, and several former heads of state will join Pope Francis. The event, named "#Not Alone," will culminate with the Pope signing a document promoting a commitment to human fraternity, which was drafted by a dozen Nobel Peace Prize laureates and representatives from Nobel Prize-winning organizations.

The World Meeting on Human Fraternity will be hosted in St. Peter's Square on June 10.

Highlights

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
6/6/2023 (1 year ago)

Published in Living Faith

Keywords: World, Human, Fraternity, Vatican, St. Peter's Square

Representatives of various countries, particularly young people, will form a symbolic embrace by joining hands in a ring around St. Peter's Square. The Fratelli Tutti Foundation, the event's sponsor, announced this heartwarming gesture. Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, the archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, described the gathering as a celebration and unity inspired by Pope Francis' encyclical Fratelli Tutti, emphasizing the transcendence of social friendship beyond ethnic or blood ties.

During a Vatican press conference promoting the event, Jesuit Father Francesco Occhetta, the head of the Fratelli Tutti Foundation, highlighted that participants would receive a gift of organic soil and seeds, symbolizing their commitment to fostering fraternity.

Confirmed attendees of the World Meeting on Human Fraternity include Nobel laureates such as Iraqi human rights advocate Nadia Murad, Congolese gynecologist Denis Mukwege, and Yemeni Arab Spring leader Tawakkol Karman. Former presidents of Colombia, Costa Rica, Poland, and the Democratic Republic of East Timor, all Nobel Peace Prize winners, will also participate, alongside representatives from various U.N. organizations that have previously received the award.

The World Meeting on Human Fraternity will commence with private meetings of five working groups, representing Nobel laureates, the impoverished, environmentalists, students, and associations. At 4 p.m. local time, the event will be broadcasted on Italian television, with host Carlo Conti, former presenter of Italy's national Eurovision competition, introducing performances by Andrea Bocelli and other Italian musical artists in St. Peter's Square.

Two hours later, Pope Francis will join the gathering to listen to the outcomes of the working group discussions, sign the document promoting human fraternity, and participate in the symbolic embrace. Circus performers and street artists will subsequently grace the stage in St. Peter's Square, entertaining the attendees until 10 p.m.

Furthermore, town squares in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Jerusalem; Nagasaki, Japan; Brazzaville, Republic of Congo; and four other locations across the world will connect live to St. Peter's Square, allowing for a global participation in the event.