Meeting in Rimini, Mattarella: 'We are living through vicious wars, help humanity to reject hatred'

President Sergio Mattarella opened the 47th edition of the Meeting di Rimini with a message emphasizing the need for humanity to reject hatred and embrace solidarity, love, and social friendship. Speaking during the opening day of the event, which runs until August 26, Mattarella called attention to the “wars of cruelty” currently being waged around the world and the growing inequalities that allow small groups of power to accumulate influence surpassing that of many sovereign states. In his message to Bernhard Scholz, president of the Foundation for Friendship Between Peoples, Mattarella highlighted the potential of compassion, generosity, and love to reshape politics, economics, and civil life. He urged society to draw strength from the humanity of individuals and women to resist homogenization, passivity, and hostility toward the different, the foreigner, and the other. “It is from the humanity of men and women that we can derive the energies to refuse the homogenization, the passivity, the hate, the aversion to the different, to the stranger,” he stated, adding his hopes for the continued building of “horizons of humanity” through the event’s activities. The Meeting di Rimini, a long-standing platform for dialogue and cultural exchange, has this year focused its theme on “love.” In his message, Mattarella linked this theme to the final lines of Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy, quoting the famous verse: “Love moves the sun and the stars.” He explained that this love, beyond individual experience, is a force capable of shaping relationships and societal directions. “To bind the I to the thou, to the we, breaks solitude and gives direction to human paths,” he wrote, underscoring the importance of connection and shared purpose. Mattarella also referenced Pope Francis’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, describing it as a call against false realism that leads to inertia, distrust, and resignation. Instead, he emphasized the responsibility of communities to take charge of their futures and to remain open to injustice and suffering. “An openness to the injustices and dramas of those who suffer, ready to build new bridges,” he noted, reflecting the values the Meeting seeks to promote. The event, held annually in Rimini, Italy, brings together intellectuals, artists, politicians, and activists from around the globe. This year’s gathering coincides with heightened global tensions, including ongoing conflicts in multiple regions and rising concerns over inequality and authoritarianism. The choice of focusing on love as a central theme comes amid these challenges, aiming to inspire hope and collective action. Participants have expressed appreciation for the President’s emphasis on unity and empathy. Many see the message as both timely and necessary, offering a counterpoint to the divisions and polarization that characterize contemporary political discourse. The event is expected to continue fostering discussions on peace, justice, and the role of culture in shaping a more humane future. As the days unfold, attendees will engage in panels, debates, and artistic performances aimed at reinforcing the ideals of solidarity and mutual respect.