St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. / Credit: Alexander_Peterson/Shutterstock
Rome Newsroom, Jun 5, 2023 / 12:20 pm (CNA).
Nobel laureates, Grammy-winner Andrea Bocelli, and several former heads of state will join Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square on Saturday night for the World Meeting on Human Fraternity.
The June 10 event, called “#Not Alone,” will culminate with Pope Francis signing a document calling for a commitment to human fraternity drafted by a dozen Nobel Peace Prize winners together with representatives of former Nobel Prize-winning organizations.
Young people representing different countries will also form “a symbolic embrace” by joining hands in a ring around St. Peter’s Square, according to the Fratelli Tutti Foundation, the sponsor of the event.
Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, the archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, described the upcoming meeting as “a great day of celebration and unity inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical Fratelli Tutti, transcending a vision that restricts social friendship to ethnic or blood ties.”
Speaking at a Vatican press conference promoting the event, Jesuit Father Francesco Occhetta, the head of the Fratelli Tutti Foundation, noted that participants in the event “will be given as a gift a piece of organic soil and seeds to plant and germinate as a symbol of the commitment to guard fraternity.”
Nobel laureates who have confirmed their participation in the World Meeting on Human Fraternity include Iraqi human rights advocate Nadia Murad, Congolese gynecologist Denis Mukwege, and Yemeni Arab Spring leader Tawakkol Karman.
The former presidents of Colombia, Costa Rica, Poland, and Democratic Republic of East Timor — all peace prize winners — will also participate, as well as representatives of several U.N. organizations that have been past recipients.
The World Meeting on Human Fraternity will begin with private meetings of five working groups representing Nobel laureates, the poor, environmentalists, students, and associations.
At 4 p.m. local time, Italian TV presenter Carlo Conti, the former host of Italy’s national Eurovision competition, will kick off an Italian television broadcast of the World Meeting on Human Fraternity event in St. Peter’s Square with performances by Bocelli and other Italian musical artists.
Pope Francis will join the event two hours later to listen to what emerged in the working group discussions, sign the human fraternity document, and join the symbolic embrace. Later, circus performers and street artists will take to the stage in St. Peter’s Square to perform until 10 p.m.
Town squares in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Jerusalem; Nagasaki, Japan; Brazzaville, Republic of Congo; and four other locations in the world will connect live to St. Peter’s Square for the event.
The following is a list of Nobel laureates and Nobel laureate representatives who will participate in the World Meeting on Human Fraternity, according to the Vatican:
Juan Manuel Santos, president of the Republic of Colombia from 2010 to 2018 (Colombia): Nobel Peace Prize in 2016 for his resolute commitment to ending the civil war that has affected his country for 50 years.
Oscar Arias Sánchez, president of the Republic of Costa Rica from 1986 to 1990 and from 2006 to 2010 (Costa Rica): Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1987 for his efforts in promoting peace and stability in Central America, in particular for his efforts to end conflicts in the region and promote dialogue and cooperation between countries.
Lech Wałęsa, president of the Republic of Poland from 1990 to 1995 (Poland): Nobel Peace Prize in 1983 for his nonviolent struggle for human rights and free trade unions in Poland. As leader of the Solidarność trade union, he played a key role in the rights of workers and in the promotion of democracy in his country.
José Ramos-Horta, president of the Democratic Republic of East Timor (East Timor): Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1996 for his work in favor of a just and peaceful solution to the conflict in East Timor.
Jody Williams, founder of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) and president of the Nobel Women’s Initiative (United States): Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1997 for work on banning and clearing landmines.
Shirin Ebadi, president of the Defenders for Human Rights Centre (Iran): Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 for her commitment to the defense of democracy, human rights, and especially women and children in Iran.
Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank (Bengals): Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his work in promoting economic and social development through the concept of microcredit. Through the Grameen Bank, he provided affordable finance to the poor and helped improve their living conditions.
Leymah Roberta Gbowee, president of Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa (Liberia): Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2011. As a leader of the Liberian women’s movement, she played a vital role in ending the civil war and promoting reconciliation in her country.
Tawakkol Karman, leader of the Arab Spring (Yemen): Nobel Peace Prize in 2011. As a journalist and activist, he defended human rights, democracy, and freedom of expression in his country.
Denis Mukwege, gynecologist (Democratic Republic of Congo): Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2018 for providing medical care and support to women victims of sexual violence in times of war and armed conflict.
Nadia Murad Basee Taha, president and co-founder of Nadia’s Initiative (Iraq): Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2018 for her efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict.
Giorgio Parisi, vice president of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei (Italy): Nobel Prize in Physics in 2021 for the discovery of the interaction between disorder and fluctuations in physical systems, from the atomic to the planetary scale.
Maria Angelita Ressa, president of Rappler Inc. (Philippines): Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 for efforts to safeguard freedom of expression.
International Peace Bureau (IPB): Organization Nobel Peace Prize in 1910 for liaising between the peace societies of various countries and helping them organize world meetings of the international peace movement. Represented by Philip James Jennings, president.
American Friends Service Committee (AFSC): Organization Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1947 for its pioneering work in the international peace movement and compassionate effort to alleviate human suffering, thereby promoting brotherhood among nations. Represented by Hector Manuel Cortez, deputy secretary general.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR): Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the organization in 1954 and 1981 for its commitment to heal the wounds of war by providing aid and protection to refugees from all over the world and for the promotion of the fundamental rights of refugees. Represented by Filippo Grandi, high commissioner.
United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF): Organization Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1965 for its commitment to strengthening solidarity between nations and narrowing the gap between rich and poor states. The organization is dedicated to promoting and advocating for the rights of children, working to improve their health, education, and well-being around the world. Represented by Bo Viktor Nylund, special representative.
International Labour Organization (ILO): Nobel Peace Prize Organization in 1969 for having created international legislation that ensures certain standards for working conditions in each country. Represented by Gianni Rosas, ILO office director for Italy and San Marino.
International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW): 1985 Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization to disseminate authoritative information and create awareness of the catastrophic consequences of a nuclear war. Represented by Kati Riitta Maria Juva, co-president, and Onazi David, co-chair.
Peace Operations, United Nations Peacekeeping Forces: Nobel Peace Prize Organization in 1988. Its mission is to prevent armed clashes and create the conditions for negotiations between countries in conflict. Represented by Aroldo Lazaro Saenz.
Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs: Organization awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1995 for its efforts to diminish the role of nuclear weapons in international politics and, in the long term, for the elimination of nuclear weapons. Represented by Paolo Cotta Ramusino, general secretary.
International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL): Organization awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 for its work in banning and clearing landmines. Represented by Tun Channareth, ICBL world ambassador, and Denise Coghlan, RSM, member of the board of directors.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): Organization awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005 for its efforts to prevent the use of nuclear energy for military purposes and to ensure that nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is used as safely as possible. Represented by Jacek Andrzej Bylica, IAEA chief of staff.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): Organization awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for its efforts to build and disseminate greater knowledge of man-made climate change and to lay the foundations for the measures necessary to counter them. Represented by Hoesung Lee, president.
Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW): Organization Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2013 for efforts to eliminate chemical weapons. Represented by Odette Melon, vice general manager.
International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN): Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization for its work to draw attention to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons and its pioneering efforts to achieve a treaty-based prohibition of such weapons. Represented by Daniel Högsta, interim executive director.
Center for Civil Liberties: Nobel Peace Prize Organization in 2022. It has been promoting the right of expression and fundamental rights of citizens for many years. It worked hard to document war crimes, violence, and abuses of power. With its work, it demonstrates the importance of civil society for peace and democracy. Represented by Oleksandra Matvijchuk.
United Nations: Nobel Peace Prize Organization in 2001 for its work for a more inclusive and peaceful world. Represented by Miguel Angel Moratinos, undersecretary-general of the United Nations, who contributed to the creation and launch of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) in 2005 and since 2019 has held the position of high representative of the UNAOC.
Oley Back Road, representing Ellen Johnson Sirleaf: Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2011 for her nonviolent fight for women’s safety and their right to full participation in peacebuilding.
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@ Synodality and Collegiality, we read: “For example, the wonderful theological teachings of Pope John Paul II on moral theology and women’s ordination are not so much explicitly opposed as they are just summarily ignored…”
The officious Cardinal Hollerich recently opined that St. John Paul II’s Ordinatio Sacerdotalis (1994) might not be infallible, and therefore can be subject to reversal in “time.” In the Sacred Tradition, if it’s not officially declared as infallible, then it’s up for grabs! Isn’t this the same attitude of the office lecher who can’t control his hands near the xerox machine because the unsuspecting ladies (or Holy Mother Church!) never explicitly said “no”?
But on that point, here is St. John Paul II’s explicit instruction: “Wherefore, in order that all doubt may be removed regarding a matter of great importance, a matter which pertains to the Church’s divine constitution itself, in virtue of my ministry of confirming the brethren (cf. Lk 22:32) I declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church’s faithful.”
Well, given that with Francis and Kasper there has been a revival of process theology where even God can change His mind, anything can be seen as “up for grabs.” I long for a willing Padre Pio voice in the Church who will put aside fraternal correction long enough to call a jackass a jackass.
@ A Matter of Justice.
A priest might assess as a more favorable reality than what exists, convincing others to believe it, convincing himself he’s simply improving the truth. Frequently regarding conditions within the Church. A lie. Or he may tell a man at the door intent on murder that he hasn’t seen the person sought, although the person is hiding behind the door to the rectory. Not a lie.
A lie is conditioned by the malice of intent. Truth is conditioned by benevolence. For the former physical circumstances do not determine good or evil. Truth is served by justice, not physical facts. A malicious intent such as intent to murder does not warrant the facts. If I say I haven’t seen him may be understood as not having seen someone who should be murdered. Similar to the monastery doorkeeper who tells the Gestapo he hasn’t seen the Jews he told to hide in the well.
Similarly, withholding facts regarding what’s formally confessed is an increasing challenge in a Godless culture. Attorneys general are attempting to elicit facts from priests’ confessions. A seal that is inviolable under any circumstances. A person may ask a priest if he knows whether their spouse has had relations, even ordinary friendship relations such as dinner, lunch, or attending the theater [Fr Pokorsky’s don’t unjustly reveal natural secrets]. On sexual relations, even outside of the confessional he is obliged not to convey that which would injure the third party, or a suspected other. The same would hold for more seemingly innocent relations such as lunch or dinner. He cannot make himself a conduit [which falls within the spectrum of gossip] for what would damage others. Much, or all of this holds true for laity. A common sin.
Otherwise, there are situations when simply withholding the truth can be benevolent, when divulging what actually exists would seriously impact the other. Similarly there are instances when that truth must be told. That decision is a matter of prudence. A heart open to God’s gracious benevolence is the guide in making these decisions.
We are pro-life… all life. How can the church and the Republican Congress remain relatively silent when children are being murdered almost weekly? Most of these killings involved the “weapon-of-choice” the military-style, high-capacity AR15, a successor to my US Army M16. The 28-year-old murderer subject at Covenant School in Nashville Tn had 2 LEGALLY gotten AR15s. Yesterday, The Congress Barry Black senate Chaplain said before the congress that “we need to go beyond giving our hearts and prayers…
Some instances of recent school murders…
April 16, 2007. Virginia Tech shooting: 23-year-old student Seung-Hui Cho killed thirty-two students and faculty members
December 14, 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting: 20-year-old Adam Lanza killed twenty-seven people and himself.
May 24, 2022 Uvalde, Texas where Twenty-one people were killed by Salvador Ramos: 19 students between the ages of 7 and 10, and two teachers.
February 14, 2018, Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. 17 people were killed, and 17 others were injured.
And the latest, the murders of three 9 students and three adults), at the Covenant School in Nashville Tn. The killer had in her possession 2 AR15s legally obtained.
Sensible gun control? The House passed President Bidden’s bill for sensible gun control, however, the Republican Senate say they will not. Their issue is with the 2nd Amendment “taking ALL guns away from honest gunowners. That is false! and an irrational and sinful position!
God help our democracy and our grandchildren will survive this massacre.
Morgan, I think the question is how do emotionally ill and mentally disturbed people get ahold of firearms in the first place and why do our health privacy laws continue to enable that?
mrscracker. Mentally ill gunners?
I forgot a vitally important issue. Regardless of the state of mind of the killer who needs help, a ploy often used by the infected members of the NRA gun lobby, now the National Republican Army, the mental impact on the children who survived and who witnessed the killing of their fellow students will live forever with the horror of the killings. Since schools are the frequent target of shootings, do you feel comfortable sending your traumatized children off to school? Some are afraid to leave home.
Guns aren’t the issue or the problem here. You are just presenting progressive talking points. A sick culture, a sick and decaying society, produces school shooters. Confiscating guns won’t fix that. The culture needs to repent and be restored to spiritual health and strength. Fix the culture and you address the issues effectively.
@ Gender Dysphoria
Therapist Jamie Reed, a woman who acknowledges her far Left proclivities, herself as queer, seems more credible because of it in her devastating description of the Trans clinic where she worked. A true charnel house for the kids who enter and are abruptly transgendered with little more than an interview. If this is the real picture, physicians are in it for the money.
Description of the emotional, physical trauma, soul killing procedures and aftermath leading many to depression and suicide. Sweden and Finland are rightly concerned with follow up studies pulling back. America forging ahead.
We’re in a culture in which the Left, the Woke are in control of politics, the Justice Department, and the LGBT movement. LGBT has political clout because they’re manipulated by the Left to bring down the ordered society of the straight White man [unless of course you’re a white man living in Martha’s Vineyard or some other elitist Left community].
It’s no anomaly that the moral disorder infecting our Church finds parallel in what’s occurring here. This moral spiritual disorder affecting both Church and nation has one source. The daemonic.
Ms Reid also found discrepancies in medical care, many patients young boys with what could be called psycho social adjustment issues diagnosed as suffering gender dysphoria. After this trend She noted a sudden increase in teenage girls arriving in groups some from the same HS.
These peculiarities indicate psycho social issues are more a factor than gender dysphoria. That what drives many is a fad. An adopted behavior choice. Govt and medicine are exploiting this phenomenon Govt for increase of power medicine for financial profit. Our Church, bishops, and especially the Vatican should target this immoral phenomenon rather than focus entirely on acceptance.
Related, Cardinal Hollerich SJ, has no justification acting as Synod relator and should be removed, brought before an ecclesial court along with Card McElroy for their heresy.
The Heart of the Matter
I am passionately pro choice,
Yet in my heart, a tiny voice.
Keep Jesus out of my womb,
My choice if it is to be a tomb.
I have a right to privacy,
Why can’t you just let me be?
My body, my control,
I believe that in my soul.
Every child a wanted child,
Pro life people drive me wild.
Yet a gentle whisper I seem to hear,
Always accompanied by a tear.
My heart seems to run red,
When I think of my child waking up dead.
I must admit there may be strife,
And I’m thankful my mom chose life.
Afraid to have an ultrasound,
I’ll see a beating heart and be bound.
Maybe it’s time to give up the fight,
Follow my heart, do what is right.
A Matter of Justice
Is it a lie for child abusers to not confess their crimes to civil Prosecutors, Judges and Juries? Even if they get their crimes against children regularly absolved in the confessional? This Catholic clergy abuse scandal is really pulling the Body of Christ’s Church into hell, Matthew 18:6-12. Could Pope Francis, as a Catholic court Church official, officially ask all child molesters, absolved or not, to tell civil Prosecutors, Judges and Juries of their crimes against children?
@ Sources of Joy
Shameful acts are always performed in darkness (Archbishop Cordileone). He refers to a species of crime, disordered sexual acts, marital betrayals, treachery. At the institution of the Eucharist Judas ran from the Light of Christ into the darkness. Sr Dolorosa entered the eternal light of Christ during the Archbishop’s Mass.
Selection of the 5th Sunday and the man born blind was a fine choice. Assumption was that a man born blind could never be healed. That somewhere somehow he suffered darkness because of a forebear’s sin, or his own. “You who are steeped in sin lecture to us!”. Pharisaical in response blind to their own sinfulness. Christ alone, the Son of man had the power to do what was thought impossible. “How could someone perform such a miracle unless he were from God?”. Still the man born blind thrown out the door.
A great peace emanates from the divine light. It draws persons into a life of contemplation of the Light. Love’s richness flows into the soul, the intellect filled with light. As Cordileone alludes to intercessory prayers, sacrifices are made for the faithful in the ‘world’.
Most haven’t a sense of the reality of the transaction between God and lowly man, that the infinitely powerful God, is also infinitely good. Compassionate beyond our full knowledge. Although Sr Dolorosa knows the amazing reality of the transaction, how lives can change for the good. She already realized that when she chose this unique vocation with the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration.
It is always taught that the story of the Great Deluge was borrowed from the Sumerian and Babylonian Flood stories. However, Dr. William H. Shea’s article that is on the Internet (Geoscience link), titled “The Antediluvians,” presents the intriguing evidence that Adam, and Cain, and other antediluvian personages have their precise equivalents in Sumerian and Babylonian mythology. Dr. Shea follows a trail of linguistic laws and pre-Flood history that is simply profound in its reach. Dr. Shea, who held a medical degree and was an instructor of Old Testamen, was a student of the famous biblical archeologist, Dr. David Noel Freedman. I had a cordial acquaintance with Dr. Freedman for three years, and my wife and I once heard him lecture. Be sure to check out Dr. Shea’s article to discover an amazing recovered segment of lost ancient history.