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THE UNITED STATES OF THE WORLD AND THE FONDAZIONE MEDITERRANEO STAND BY POPE LEO XIV
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13 October 2026
A delegation from the “United States of the World” and the “Fondazione Mediterraneo” – led by Secretary-General Michele Capasso and Pia Molinari – visited the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome to be with Pope Leo XIV and pray for him ahead of his operation to remove a lung nodule.
In a number of interviews with ‘TV2000’, ‘Il Messaggero’, ‘La Stampa’ and other publications, Secretary-General Capasso emphasised his affection for the Pontiff, expressing his certainty that the Pope would make a swift recovery so that he might continue to steadfastly uphold the necessity and inevitability of peace.
Capasso then expressed his appreciation for “the Pope’s public admission to hospital – just as public, indeed, was the announcement made during the Angelus on Sunday 11 October, amidst collective astonishment and a strong sense of tenderness aroused by a man who did not conceal his physical frailty and entrusted himself to everyone’s prayers: ‘tenderness’, in fact, and also ‘emotion’ – but not ‘concern’ – are the sentiments expressed by the hundreds of people gathered here with us at the Gemelli Hospital awaiting the Pontiff”, concludes Michele Capasso.
FEAST OF ST CARLO ACUTIS AT THE MUSEUM OF PEACE
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12 October 2026
On the feast day of Saint Carlo Acutis, the Museum of Peace welcomed many worshippers for various moments of prayer.
On this occasion, a video dedicated to Saint Carlo Acutis was screened as part of the "The Campania of Emotions 2025" programme.
FEAST OF ST FRANCIS
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04 October 2026
A delegation from the “United States of the World” and the “Fondazione Mediterraneo” took part in the Feast of St Francis, patron saint of Italy, in Assisi.
“The speech by the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella,” said Secretary-General Michele Capasso on the occasion of the National Feast of St Francis of Assisi and the 800th anniversary of his death, “touched all our hearts. The presence of dear, close friends, such as Cardinal Angel Fernandez Artime (former Rector Major of the Salesians and a founding member of the ‘United States of the World’) and Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, reinforced the intimate and family-like atmosphere of the ceremony.”
“In these times marked by senseless and cruel wars, by so much violence, manipulation and arrogance – as Pope Leo XIV said a few days ago – the hope,” President Mattarella emphasised, “is that the sun of Francis may illuminate the world, convert minds hardened by hatred, and point the way to peace, hope and serene, fraternal coexistence.”
In the Papal Basilica of St Francis, the Head of State attended Mass, celebrated by Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, and witnessed the lighting of the votive lamp of the municipalities of Italy by the Mayor of Assisi, Valter Stoppini.
THE AMERICA’S CUP IN NAPLES CAPTIVATES THE WORLD
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27 September 2026
The America’s Cup pre-regatta, which concluded on 27 September with a victory for ‘Luna Rossa’, captivated the world with the beauty of the Gulf of Naples and the city’s warm welcome.
A team effort that demonstrates the importance of working together for the common good.
From the headquarters of the Maison des Alliances of the United States of the World, the spectacle was extraordinary.
POPE LEO XIV IN LOURDES AND METZ
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26 September 2026
A delegation from the ‘United States of the World’ and the ‘Fondazione Mediterraneo’ took part in Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Lourdes and Metz.
In the Grotto of Massabielle, where the Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Bernadette, “no vulnerability is rejected”, because “it stands as a sanctuary of Christian hope”, in the face of “current trends that seek to redefine the value of human life in the face of illness, suffering or old age”. So said Pope Leo XIV in his homily during the Mass celebrated on the Prairie of the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, before more than 150,000 faithful, in which he emphasised that, at this historic moment, “within a society in search of progress and material well-being”, but which at times attempts “to forget the horizon of eternity, Mary comes to remind us of the greatness and significance of our vocation to life, to eternal life”.
Before the celebration, from 10.00 am, following his meeting with the French bishops, Leo XIV travelled in the popemobile along the avenues of the Esplanade to the basilicas of Our Lady of the Rosary and the Immaculate Conception, and then past the Grotto to the Prairie, greeting the pilgrims and hugging some children, as if at a large general audience at the Vatican. He then made his way to the sacristy behind the large altar platform, a white structure with three arches at the front and others on all sides.
POPE LEO XIV’S APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO PARIS
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25 September 2026
A delegation from the “United States of the World” and the “Fondazione Mediterraneo” – led by Secretary-General Michele Capasso – took part in the key events of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to France: the first apostolic journey by a Pope to this country in 18 years.
“Of particular significance,” said Secretary-General Capasso, “is the celebration of the Eucharist in Place de la Concorde: a place consecrated to secularism. During the service, Pope Leo invited French Catholics to move beyond a faith lived out in private, saying: ‘Strive to rediscover a radiant horizon, to build a renewed nation starting from its roots nourished by faith. Do not keep your faith in Jesus Christ solely for yourselves, but let it overflow to quench the thirst and fulfil the needs of the people you meet. It is up to you to bring hope where discouragement and spiritual aridity reign’. These words of the Pope, in a secular country where baptisms are nevertheless on the rise, are a sign of a profound change summed up in the Pontiff’s concluding remarks: ‘Indeed, it is by accepting to live in the truth under the gaze of Jesus that we can be authentic’”.
A vast crowd welcomed the Pope at the Place de la Concorde, which he reached in the popemobile after passing through the Arc de Triomphe and travelling the entire length of the Champs-Élysées. Estimates put the number at 800,000 people, and there is no precedent for such a crowded Mass in the centre of Paris. The French President’s wife, Brigitte Macron, also attended the ceremony.
POPE LEO XIV’S VISIT TO UNESCO
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25 September 2026
On 25 September 2026, Pope Leo XIV paid an official visit to UNESCO at the invitation of the Organisation’s Director-General, Khaled El-Enany. During this visit, the Pope delivered a solemn address before the entire international community and the UNESCO family. This was the first visit of its kind in over 40 years, following the historic address delivered by Pope John Paul II at UNESCO in 1980.
A delegation from the ‘United States of the World’, led by Secretary-General Michele Capasso, attended the meeting.
“Our organisation,” said Secretary-General Capasso, “has always had strong ties with UNESCO: this is evidenced by the visits of Directors-General to our headquarters in Naples, including Director-General Irina Bokova. The presence of Pope Leo XIV demonstrates the Vatican’s focus on the major issues of today: artificial intelligence, young people, peace and interfaith dialogue.”
THE AMERIGO VESPUCCI IN FRONT OF THE TOTEM OF PEACE
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24 September 2026
The training ship “Vespucci” docked in Naples in front of the “Totem of Peace”, a symbol of the United States of the World, to mark the pre-regatta for the America’s Cup.
“This is an important occasion,” said Secretary-General Michele Capasso, “because the Totem of Peace, dedicated to Pope Francis and containing the relics of migrants, war victims, children who have died of starvation and martyred cities, serves as a reminder to the representatives of various countries gathered in Naples not to forget the tragedies afflicting humanity, particularly at a time of joy such as the America’s Cup”.
“KYMA – STORIES THAT SET SAIL” – FIRST EDITION
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23 September 2026
A delegation from the “United States of the World” and the “Fondazione Mediterraneo”, led by Prof. Giuseppe D’Antonio, took part in the launch of “Kyma – Stories Setting Sail”, a new international platform designed to transform the city of Naples into a hub for dialogue between publishing, cinema, the audiovisual sector and new creative languages.
Promoted by the Mezzogiorno Foundation in close collaboration with the Naples Industrialists’ Union, and co-funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation as part of the "Naples City World" programme, “Kyma” aims to be an international space – a platform capable of fostering dialogue between the creative industries across the Mediterranean and European regions, promoting exchanges, co-productions and projects. At the heart of the two-day event at the Royal Palace are the sector’s most pressing challenges: from the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence to new transmedia models, right through to the protection of intellectual property and strategies for international co-production.
‘Kyma’ forms part of the "Naples City World" vision, developed as part of Neapolis 2500 to strengthen the city’s international profile through culture, diplomacy, research and the creative industries.
The programme also includes a discussion with Turkey, the guest country at “Kyma”, to take a closer look at its audiovisual export model. Among the events were celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of "A Place in the Sun", a soap opera produced entirely in Naples. The event concluded with a preview screening of "A view of the lake", directed by Marco Pontecorvo and based on the novel of the same name by Andrea Vitali.
ANNIVERSARY OF THE PASSING OF GUSTAVO ADOLFO ROL
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22 September 2026
Secretary-General Michele Capasso and Pia Molinari took part in a series of events in Turin to mark the 32nd anniversary of the passing of Gustavo Adolfo Rol, the inspiration behind the United States of the World and a dear friend of Michele Capasso, Mario and Pia Molinari.