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STUDENTS FROM THE STATE MIDDLE SCHOOL OF SANT'ANASTASIA VISIT THE MUSEUM OF PEACE
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01 December 2025
Accompanied by their teachers, students from the State Middle School of Sant'Anastasia (Naples) visited the Museum of Peace and the headquarters of the United States of the World.
Welcomed by Secretary-General Michele Capasso, the students expressed their appreciation for the emotional journey, declaring that they had "an extraordinary experience that will remain etched in their hearts for the rest of their lives".
PRESIDENT MATTARELLA IN POMPEI
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29 November 2025
The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, visited the ruins of Pompeii: accompanied by his daughter Laura, he took a private tour of the archaeological site this morning, guided by director Gabriel Zuchtriegel. During the visit, he met and shook hands with Maurizio Patriciello.
AT THE BLUE MOSQUE WITH POPE LEONE XIV: THE MEETING WITH BARTHOLOMEW I
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29 November 2025
The Pope arrived punctually shortly after 9 a.m. at the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, one of the most symbolic places in Istanbul, staying for about fifteen minutes. A visit experienced "with deep respect for the place and the faith of those who gather there in prayer". Accompanying the pontiff were the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Ersoy, the Mufti of Istanbul Tuncel, Imam Fatih Kaya and some members of the "United States of the World".
Barefoot, with his hands at his sides and his head turned upwards - looking at the 21,043 turquoise ceramic tiles - Pope Leone XIV entered the so-called "Blue Mosque", one of the most symbolic and evocative monuments of the Turkish metropolis, previously visited by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006 and Pope Francis in 2014.
The papal entourage also included Cardinals Kurt Koch and George Koovakad, respectively prefects of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue. Everyone paused for a long time in front of the muḥazīn pulpit, with Aşkın Tunca explaining the architecture and function of this space from which the faithful are called to prayer. The Pope then passed in front of the "Mihrab", the marble niche that indicates the direction of Mecca, which also contains a Sura – number 19 – that refers to the Virgin Mary. He continued his tour, looking several times at the dome and the ceiling, which is over 23 metres high.
At this moment, we recalled other visits to this Mosque.
In the afternoon, at 4 p.m., in the Patriarchal Palace, an important act in the path of interreligious dialogue took place: Pope Leo XIV met with Patriarch Bartholomew I and together they signed a joint declaration on the theme of peace and dialogue.
Pope Leo XIV's day ended with the celebration of Holy Mass in the Volkswagen Arena: thousands of people attended the event and we sat in the front rows, aware of the moment we were experiencing. In his homily, the Pope said, among other things:
“Dear brothers and sisters, we celebrate this Holy Mass on the eve of the day when the Church commemorates Saint Andrew, Apostle and Patron Saint of this land. At the same time, we begin Advent, preparing ourselves to relive, at Christmas, the mystery of Jesus, Son of God, “begotten, not made, of one substance with the Father” (Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed), as the Fathers gathered at the Council of Nicaea solemnly declared 1,700 years ago. In this context, the Liturgy offers us, in the first reading (cf. Is 2:1-5), one of the most beautiful pages of the book of the prophet Isaiah, where the invitation to all peoples to ascend the mountain of the Lord (cf. v. 3), a place of light and peace, resounds. I would therefore like us to meditate on our being Church, focusing on some of the images contained in this text. The first is that of the “mountain exalted above the mountains” (cf. Is 2:2). It reminds us that the fruits of God's action...”.
GERALD LEON CANNON AND ELISABETTA SERIO PLAY AT THE MUSEUM OF PEACE
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28 November 2025
During bassist Gerald Leon Cannon and his wife Minnie's visit to the Museum of Peace and the “Pino Daniele Alive” section, using Rino Zurzolo's bass guitar donated to the museum by his wife Valentina, the great American musician performed several songs – including Pino Daniele's “Quando” – with Elisabetta Serio, Pino's long-time pianist.
"The video and photos by Riccardo Piccirillo are splendid", said President Michele Capasso, who welcomed the guests.
GERALD LEON CANNON RECEIVES THE BOOKS "BOSNIA" AND "RAFFAELE, IL SINDACO"
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28 November 2025
On the occasion of bassist Gerald Leon Cannon and his wife Minnie's visit to the Museum of Peace, President Michele Capasso presented them with copies of his books "Bosnia" and "Raffaele, il sindaco".
The great American musician was moved by the story of the mayor who rebuilt San Sebastiano al Vesuvio after the destruction caused by the eruption of Vesuvius on 19 March 1944.
POPE LEONE XIV IN ISTANBUL AND IZNIK
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28 November 2025
The first meeting with Pope Leone XIV takes place early in the morning in the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. We take our places in the right aisle of the Catholic cathedral, seat of the Apostolic Vicariate of Istanbul.
The Holy Father is excited and moved by the warm welcome and embraces the nuns and bishops with great enthusiasm.
This trip is ‘unusual’ for us because, not following the Pope's official delegation, we have to anticipate the next stages. We therefore leave the cathedral and head for the home for the elderly run by the ‘Little Sisters of the Poor’, where the second stage of the day takes place.
'Dear sisters and brothers, good morning! I sincerely thank you for Sister's words of welcome and for the welcome shown by all of you. Hospitality is the gift of this home! A gift that comes from God and is made fruitful by the Little Sisters of the Poor, the staff and benefactors, and also by all the guests, in their daily life together. Thank you all!'
With these words, the Pope embraces the community of elderly people, the faithful and the Little Sisters of the Poor present in the chapel of the shelter.
Before concluding, we drive to Iznik-Nicaea: the most important stop of the day.
İznik. 12 noon. We arrive in this small town after a two-hour journey and numerous checkpoints set up to ensure the safety of the papal visit, which coincides with the 1700th anniversary of the first council, with an ecumenical prayer meeting scheduled to take place near the archaeological excavations of the ancient basilica of St Neophytos.
About 300 bishops participated in the First Council of Nicaea to resolve the problems raised by Arianism. They arrived at a declaration of faith, which was given the name Nicene Creed, recognising the consubstantiality between the Father and the Son and condemning Arius.
We are standing on the platform near the remains of the basilica where the Pope has arrived. After the ecumenical prayer and the speech by Patriarch Bartholomew, Leo XIV reads his speech:
“Dear brothers and sisters! In a time that is dramatic in many ways, in which people are subjected to countless threats to their very dignity, the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea is a precious opportunity to ask ourselves who Jesus Christ is in the lives of women and men today, who he is for each of us... I am deeply grateful to His Holiness Bartholomew, who, with great wisdom and foresight, decided to commemorate the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea together in the very place where it was celebrated; and I warmly thank the Heads of Churches and Representatives of World Christian Communions who accepted the invitation to participate in this event. May God the Father, almighty and merciful, hear the fervent prayer we offer him today and grant that this important anniversary may bear abundant fruit of reconciliation, unity and peace.
POPE LEONE XIV'S JOURNEY TO TURKEY BEGINS
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27 November 2025
A delegation from the "United States of the World" and the "Fondazione Mediterraneo" accompanied Pope Leone XIV on his first Apostolic Journey to Turkey and Lebanon.
During the flight taking Pope Leo XIV to Ankara, the first stop on his first Apostolic Journey, there was great excitement among journalists who greeted the Pontiff and took selfies with him. The Pope visited the captain of the aircraft and received various gifts, including a baseball bat.
At 12.30 pm, Pope Leo XIV arrives in the Turkish capital. We await him in delegation at the Atatürk Mausoleum, where the Holy Father is welcomed by the Turkish authorities.
After a group photo with the delegation, Pope Leo XIV heads to the Misak-ı Millî Tower to sign the “Book of Honour”; he then pays a brief visit to the museum dedicated to Atatürk and the history of the Republic.
At 2:00 p.m., the Holy Father travels by car to the Presidential Palace where, upon arrival, he is escorted by the traditional Turkish cavalry to the main entrance gate: a gesture of great impact with dozens of horsemen symbolising Turkish hospitality and traditions; those at the front of the line carry the flags of Turkey and Vatican City.
The Pope is welcomed by President Erdoğan and together they proceed to the podium.
After the national anthems, 21 cannon shots, the honouring of the flags, the Guard of Honour, the presentation of the respective delegations and the official photo at the entrance to the Presidential Palace, the President and the Pope take the lift to the second floor of the Presidential Palace for a group photo with the Turkish delegation and the Vatican delegation. They then moved to the President's Office for a private meeting, the presentation of the family and a photo with the family.
Immediately afterwards, the text of President Erdoğan's address to the Pope was distributed, and we find many points that repeat what Erdoğan himself had said during his visit to Naples in 2005 at the headquarters of the “United States of the World” and in other subsequent meetings with us, as if time had not passed and the problems had remained crystallised in history.
At 3:45 p.m., the Pope arrives at the Nation's Library (National Library) where he meets with authorities, civil society, the diplomatic corps and representatives of international institutions, such as the “United States of the World”.
The meeting takes place in the central hall, dominated by a large blue globe: looking at it while the Pope delivers his speech, one gets the impression of a connection with our "House for Peace", even if only as an idea, since our project is much more complex and stands out for its adherence to the values of peace and protection of the planet, as described in the previous chapter 23. In the front row are Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, current Prefect of the Dicastery for the Oriental Churches of the Holy See.
TOWARDS NAPLES: "UNITED STATES OF EUROPE, A REALISTIC UTOPIA AT THE FORDS
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27 November 2025
In view of the summit to be held in Naples next March on the "United States of Europe" at the headquarters of the "United States of the World", a meeting coordinated by Massimo Pendenza was held at the University of Salerno.
After greetings from Rector Virgilio D'Antonio and Director of the Department of Political and Social Studies Maurizio Merico, speeches were given by Guido Montani, Francesco Clementi, Francesco Callegari, Francesca Romano D’Antuono and Mauro Casarotto.
The conclusions were entrusted to Senator Giuseppe Lumia, member of the United States of the World.
CONDOLENCES ON THE DEATH OF ORNELLA VANONI
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22 November 2025
Secretary-General Michele Capasso, Director Pia Molinari, the members of the Executive Council and the International Committee, the Council of Ambassadors, the heads of the branch offices and all the members of the United States of the World and the autonomous sections Fondazione Mediterraneo, Accademia del Mediterraneo and Kimyya express their heartfelt condolences on the death of Ornella Vanoni, member of the United States of the World and Fondazione Mediterraneo.
In their message, Michele Capasso, Pia and Jacopo Molinari state, among other things:
"A great artist has left us, but above all a kind and ironic friend, frank and sharp-witted: a unique and extraordinary woman.
When we dedicated the documentary film ‘BASTA POCO’ to her in 2018, she thanked us all for having portrayed the truest parts of her personality.
And now we are here to remember so many moments: the caresses on her beard (she said it brought her luck), her stays at home enjoying cherries and apricots from Vesuvius (her passion), her joy when we produced the documentary film 'Basta poco', her support for the Fondazione Mediterraneo and the Stati Uniti del Mondo, her stays at the Casa-Museo in Turin, her visits to the Museo della Pace and the sections dedicated to Mario Molinari and Pino Daniele, the birthdays, the dinners and so much more. Thank you, Ornella, for intertwining our lives. We will never forget you”.
CONDOLENCES ON THE DEATH OF CLAUDIO AZZOLINI
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21 November 2025
Secretary-General Michele Capasso, Director Pia Molinari, the members of the Executive Council and the International Committee, the Council of Ambassadors, the heads of the branch offices and all the members of the United States of the World and the autonomous sections of Fondazione Mediterraneo, Accademia del Mediterraneo and Kimyya express their heartfelt condolences on the death of the Honourable Claudio Azzolini, founding member and architect of the development of the United States of the World and Fondazione Mediterraneo.
In his message, Michele Capasso states, among other things:
"A brother has passed away! A friend! A gentleman! A GIANT of politics and institutions. It is impossible at this time to summarise almost four decades of friendship, complicity and sharing.
Like in a film, the many moments that have characterised our lives flash before our eyes, in particular the sharing of values and ideals that are worth spending our lives on.
If the FONDAZIONE MEDITERRANEO and the STATI UNITI DEL MONDO have been able to realise their mission, much of the credit and recognition goes to CLAUDIO AZZOLINI.
With method, passion, competence, clarity and conviction, he supported this joint project for dialogue and peace, contributing significantly to its affirmation at European and international level – when he took office as a Member of the European Parliament and Vice-President of the Council of Europe – and at national level as a Member of Parliament and head of various institutional bodies.
We entrust our first memories of Claudio to a collection of photos captured on our websites: from his meeting with President Scalfaro to the visits to our headquarters by many Italian and international personalities, from President Casini to Gianni Letta, from the presidents of European parliaments to heads of state and government who wanted to pay tribute to a commitment that, thanks to a 'consortium of passion and love' - of which Claudio was the main protagonist - produced concrete results. A round of applause for his life”.