“Mediterranean: Frontier of Peace” conference emphasizes cooperation between countries

FLORENCE, Italy — On Sunday, the closing session of the “Mediterranean: Frontier of Peace” conference, which was called by the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI), was held. Syriac Maronite Patriarch Mor Bechara Boutros al-Raï, Syriac Catholic Patriarch Mor Ignatius Joseph III Younan, and a number of other patriarchs attended the session.

During the session, Mayor of Florence Dario Nardella described the conference as historic, stressing that the inhabitants of the Mediterranean reject all forms of human rights violations and seek peace and harmony.

For his part, Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, expressed his admiration for the deep and frank dialogue that dominated the conference.

This was followed by a series of comments from the audience that focused on the need to spread a culture of peace and human rights and the diligent work ahead of them in the Mediterranean countries. The conference participants also expressed their pain over the war in Ukraine and called for the start of negotiations and dialogue to end the suffering of the Ukrainian people.

The meeting also stressed the need for Mediterranean countries to cooperate in the field of promoting justice, human rights, respect for religious freedoms, equality and non-discrimination, opening new horizons for the young generations, and instilling hope in them for a better future.

The Middle East is a historical intersection of European civilizations and West Asia and can play a primary role in achieving peace and developing societies through cooperation between its cities and religious groups.

After the session, everyone participated in a closing mass, which was presided over by Patriarch al- Raï and assisted by a number of Eastern Catholic patriarchs.

During the visit of Patriarch al-Raï to Florence, he granted the blessing to establish a new Maronite parish in the city. The Patriarch visited the historic Church of St. Agata, which will become the location of the Maronite parish and bear the name of Saint Charbel-Florence.  He was also briefed on the restoration of the church.