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TOWARDS A FEDERAL EUROPE: FOUNDING VALUES AND THE CONTRIBUTION OF VOLUNTEERING, ASSOCIATIONS AND THE THIRD SECTOR
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30 January 2026
The third stage of the “Federal Europe: towards a constituent phase” journey arrives in Padua, a city symbolising civic engagement and participation, to focus on the contribution of volunteering, associations and the third sector in building a new Europe.
After discussions with the academic world in Salerno and a look at global challenges in Florence, Padua represents the social and community dimension of the federal project. It is no coincidence that the meeting is taking place in a city that has distinguished itself as the European Capital of Volunteering, a lively place of civic networks, solidarity and social innovation.
The meeting on Friday, 30 January 2026, was dedicated to reflecting on the founding values of a truly united Europe and on the necessary responses to the major social issues of our time: inequality, poverty, rights, democratic participation, peace and environmental sustainability. The discussion between the main voluntary organisations and European federalist movements aims to strengthen a shared vision: a federal Europe cannot be created without the active involvement of organised civil society.
The Padua stage therefore aims to be more than just a meeting: it is a laboratory for co-design and co-responsibility, in which the third sector contributes to defining the social profiles of the European federal structure, bringing concrete experiences, real needs and practices of participatory democracy.
This is a fundamental step on the road to the 2026 Naples Summit – at the headquarters of the “United States of the World” – where these energies and proposals will converge to give shape to a true constituent phase of the United States of Europe.
ICESCO INTERNATIONAL FORUM “CULTURE FOR RETHINKING THE WORLD”
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29 January 2026
The “United States of the World” and the “Fondazione Mediterraneo” share with ICESCO the aims of the Forum, which focuses on the role of culture in rethinking the world at a tragic moment in human history.
"PORTA A PORTA"PROGRAMME RECEIVES THE MEDITERRANEAN INFORMATION AWARD
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22 January 2026
The international juries awarded Porta a Porta the 2026 ‘Mediterranean Information Award’.
The ceremony took place on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Mediterranean Award (22 January 1996) and the programme ‘Porta a Porta’.
On this occasion, during the programme, Secretary-General Michele Capasso highlighted the value of the award based on ‘doing’, using a motto attributed to Pope Alexander VII as its foundation: ‘Do much, say little’.
Bruno Vespa expressed his gratitude by emphasising the importance of the United States of the World for peace.
BRUNO VESPA RECEIVES THE MEDITERRANAN AWARD FOR PEACE
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22 January 2026
The international juries have awarded Bruno Vespa the 2026 Mediterranean Award for Peace.
The ceremony took place on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Mediterranean Award (22 January 1996) and the television programme Porta a Porta (22 January 2026).
On this occasion, during the programme, Secretary-General Michele Capasso highlighted the value of the award based on “doing”, using a motto attributed to Pope Alexander VII as its foundation: “Do much, say little”.
Bruno Vespa expressed his gratitude by emphasising the importance of the United States of the World for peace.
THE DIPLOMATIC ACTION OF THE HOLY SEE IN THE FACE OF NEW GLOBAL CHALLENGES
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17 January 2026
A Lectio magistralis by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin opened the conference ‘The diplomatic action of the Holy See in the face of new global challenges’, organised by the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy: Peace and justice, voices that continue to rise in different regions of the planet as pillars of order among actions. The denunciation of the use of force to resolve conflicts, the need for solutions that are educational, formative and research-based. Diplomacy as a way to build the common good and, for those who work in the Holy See, the commitment to share people's pain and heal it with evangelical hope. These are some of the points that Cardinal Pietro Parolin highlights in his Lectio magistralis focused on ‘Peace and justice in the diplomacy of the Holy See in the face of new challenges.’ The Secretary of State spoke at this morning's conference, 17 January, in the Ducal Hall of the Apostolic Palace, on the occasion of the 325th anniversary of the founding of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy.
Cardinal Parolin's key words were: "The prevailing multipolarism leads to armed peace or to the establishment of an attitude of mutual distrust between states. We need foresight and healthy realism to be peacemakers".
Secretary-General Michele Capasso emphasised the importance of the content of the letter that Pope Leone XIV sent to the participants and the words of hope that Cardinal Parolin addressed to the diplomats of the Holy See: I repeated to them a phrase that is dear to me and that has characterised our actions from the beginning: ‘Do much, say little’.
‘We find in Cardinal Parolin's Lectio,’ Secretary General Capasso told the press, "the expression according to the lesson of Pope Alexander VII "Do much, say little", when he hopes that “the Holy See's response will remain that of effective and discreet diplomacy, which sees in every level of activity and responsibility the possibility of seeking ways and means to ensure an international order based on justice, in which the principle and goal of coexistence is peace, operating according to the principles, customs and respect for the rules of diplomacy”.
This, Capasso concludes, ties in with the pastoral perspective referred to by Pope Leone XIV in his aforementioned letter: “The diplomatic service is not a profession, but a pastoral vocation: it is the evangelical art of encounter, which seeks paths of reconciliation where men raise walls and mistrust”.
This is the same path we have been following for forty years with the “United States of the World” and which we will continue to follow: “DO MUCH, SAY LITTLE”."
THE DIPLOMATIC ACTION OF THE HOLY SEE IN THE FACE OF NEW GLOBAL CHALLENGES
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17 January 2026
A Lectio magistralis by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin opened the conference ‘The diplomatic action of the Holy See in the face of new global challenges’, organised by the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy: Peace and justice, voices that continue to rise in different regions of the planet as pillars of order among actions. The denunciation of the use of force to resolve conflicts, the need for solutions that are educational, formative and research-based. Diplomacy as a way to build the common good and, for those who work in the Holy See, the commitment to share people's pain and heal it with evangelical hope. These are some of the points that Cardinal Pietro Parolin highlights in his Lectio magistralis focused on ‘Peace and justice in the diplomacy of the Holy See in the face of new challenges.’ The Secretary of State spoke at this morning's conference, 17 January, in the Ducal Hall of the Apostolic Palace, on the occasion of the 325th anniversary of the founding of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy.
Cardinal Parolin's key words were: "The prevailing multipolarism leads to armed peace or to the establishment of an attitude of mutual distrust between states. We need foresight and healthy realism to be peacemakers".
Secretary-General Michele Capasso emphasised the importance of the content of the letter that Pope Leone XIV sent to the participants and the words of hope that Cardinal Parolin addressed to the diplomats of the Holy See: I repeated to them a phrase that is dear to me and that has characterised our actions from the beginning: ‘Do much, say little’.
‘We find in Cardinal Parolin's Lectio,’ Secretary General Capasso told the press, "the expression according to the lesson of Pope Alexander VII "Do much, say little", when he hopes that “the Holy See's response will remain that of effective and discreet diplomacy, which sees in every level of activity and responsibility the possibility of seeking ways and means to ensure an international order based on justice, in which the principle and goal of coexistence is peace, operating according to the principles, customs and respect for the rules of diplomacy”.
This, Capasso concludes, ties in with the pastoral perspective referred to by Pope Leone XIV in his aforementioned letter: “The diplomatic service is not a profession, but a pastoral vocation: it is the evangelical art of encounter, which seeks paths of reconciliation where men raise walls and mistrust”.
This is the same path we have been following for forty years with the “United States of the World” and which we will continue to follow: “DO MUCH, SAY LITTLE”."
ITALIAN MODEL UNITED NATION
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12 January 2026
Two hundred students from various schools in Campania gathered at the headquarters of the “United States of the World” for the “Italian Model United Nations” meeting, organised by the United Network Association with the patronage of the “United States of the World” and in collaboration with the Mediterranean Foundation and the Museumon Peace MAMT.
On this occasion, Secretary-General Michele Capasso presented a preview of the “House for Peace” project.
A CLAP OF HANDS FOR FRANCO CASAVOLA
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04 January 2026
All of us founders of the UNITED STATES OF THE WORLD and the FONDAZIONE MEDITERRANEO express our deepest condolences and applaud the passing of Francesco Paolo Casavola, president emeritus of the Constitutional Court and member of our institution.
Franco was a dear friend of mine, whom I met through Francesco De Martino, whose assistant he was from 1955 onwards.
Our lives intertwined on many occasions: from our participation in the Arbitration Commission in the former Yugoslavia in 1993-94 to the drafting of the “Constitution of the United States of the World” on 12 December 1997. on that day, despite the presence of over two thousand delegates from many countries, we continued to talk about articles, democracy and bioethics, attracting the curiosity and attention of the then Prince Felipe of Spain (now King Felipe VI).
Among my many memories are two beautiful dedications in two of his books: “F. De Martino storico” (1990) and Return to the origins. For the reconstruction of the foundations of democracy (2014).
Upon hearing the news, there was a desire, almost a need, to hear his voice: on the very day that Trump violated Venezuela's sovereignty and the world continues to trample on every form of international law every day.
We did so by listening again to an interview Franco gave two years ago to Filippo Patroni Griffi, a constitutional judge, in which he reiterates the weakening of the value and collegiality of the High Court and the need to protect citizens' rights “however and wherever” through a “new rich humanity”.
His words should serve as a warning in this difficult period of history in which we are experiencing a daily famine of humanity, values and rights.
A CLAP OF HANDS FOR DON ANTONIO DE MARTINO
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20 December 2025
In front of his legendary "Chalet Ciro", the final farewell was given to Don Antonio De Martino: a central figure, owner and soul of the historic chalet in Mergellina.
A dear friend of the Foundation, he was a visionary who accompanied us through the difficult moments of our peace mission, sweetening complex peace negotiations with his delicacies. He was always ready to intervene in person at meetings, dinners and gatherings with heads of state and government, ambassadors and representatives of international organisations.
His and his son Ciro's participation in the celebrations for the 25th anniversary of our Foundation, together with the 20th anniversary of the United Arab Emirates for diplomacy, was extraordinary: the Grand Hotel in Rome became the venue for Chalet Ciro and suddenly graffe, ice cream and desserts invaded the distinguished audience: from the then President of the Senate Pietro Grasso to H.E. Jamal Sanad Al Swaidi and many others.
A collection of photos preserves the memory not only of a successful entrepreneur, but also of a true guardian of Neapolitan tradition, capable of transforming a small seaside establishment into a global benchmark for sweet gastronomy.
His historic motto, "I Make You Happy", will forever remain the symbol of "artisan intelligence" — as Don Antonio liked to define his business — and Chalet Ciro will continue to exist in the spirit of Antonio's history and example, keeping alive the scent of knowledge, traditions, and history that made him a legend and will continue to do so.
FAREWELL CEREMONY FOR VINCENZO SALAMONE, PRESIDENT OF THE CAMPANIA REGIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE COURT
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18 December 2025
Secretary-General Michele Capasso attended the farewell ceremony for Vincenzo Salamone, President of the Campania Regional Administrative Court.
On this occasion, attended by the highest civil, military and religious authorities, President Salamone's commitment to promoting administrative justice that increasingly serves the needs of the people was remembered.
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