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INAUGURATION OF THE SHRINE DEDICATED TO POPE FRANCIS, WITH THE RELICS OF THE VICTIMS OF WARS, MIGRANTS, STARVING CHILDREN AND "MARTYR CITIES"

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Naples  ||  | 07 June 2025
Iniziative (EN) - Maison de la Paix (EN)

The ceremony for the inauguration of the Shrine dedicated to POPE FRANCIS, with the relics of the victims of war, migrants, starving children and "martyr cities" was held at the Maritime Station of the Port of Naples.
Speakers included the Metropolitan Cardinal Archbishop of Naples Domenico Battaglia, the Prefect of Naples Michele di Bari, the Deputy Mayor of Naples Laura Lieto, the s. Secretary General of the United Nations and High Representative for the Alliance of Civilisations Miguel Àngel Moratinos accompanied by his wife Dominique, a representation of the Port Authority Corps - Coast Guard led by Admiral Gaetano Angora, the Ambassador of Bosnia to Italy Amira Arifović Harms, the v. mayor of Srebrenica and president of the committee for the celebrations of the 30th anniversary of the genocide Hamdija Fejzić accompanied by Sadeta Suljić, Prof. Lhassan Hbid with his wife Lamia, the deputy mayor of Gernika Jon Lejarraga, diplomats and men of culture from various countries, the Ambassadors of the United States of the World Giuseppe Lumia, Giuseppe D’Antonio, Massimo Pica Ciamarra, Gilles Altan e altri.
"In Naples, the Shrine dedicated to POPE FRANCIS, the TOTEM OF PEACE by sculptor Mario Molinari, with the relics of migrants who died at sea, victims of wars, children who died of starvation in the world and the “Martyr Cities”, is an international event that puts Naples at the centre of the World".
These were the opening words of Michele Capasso, Secretary General of the United States of the World, made up of 181 countries and 16,000 civil society organisations that organise “Peace is Action” events in various cities on five continents.

"Today we are experiencing an immense famine of love, joy and hope. A suicidal selfishness is destroying the whole of humanity," Capasso said. "This Shrine is unique in the world because, at the behest of Pope Francis - who ten years ago inaugurated it with the relics and remains of migrants who died at sea - as confirmed in a meeting on 14 October 2025, he wanted the remains of war victims and children who died of starvation to be added. And to these, by virtue of an agreement we signed with the United Nations - UNAOC, we added the relics and the most significant symbols of the ‘Martyr Cities’.
Cardinal Battaglia, clutching in his hands the cloth of the Palestinian paediatrician, on which are written the names of the nine children and her husband who were killed, said: ‘Even more from this place the cry of our no to all wars, to all forms of terrorism and violence rises loudly’. And, speaking of wars, she chanted the word “Enough!” three times. On this occasion, another urn was placed with the relics of the victims of the main countries at war today: Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Palestine, Gaza, Syria, Yemen, Sudan and others, with the addition of 20 relics from the “Martyr Cities” of the 20th and 21st centuries: Gernika to Sarajevo, Hiroshima to Srebrenica, Dresden to Naples, Marrakech to Saigon, Beirut to Marseille, Ypres to Naples, Naypyidaw to Rome, Bucha to Gaza, Nagasaki to Aleppo.
The Prefect of Naples, Michele di Bari, said of the shrine: "It is a demonstration that Michele Capasso, Secretary General of the United States of the World, has once again sought, as he has been doing for 40 years, to intensify the 'action by all those who believe in the principles and values of peace. And Pope Francis, who has been a great Pontiff, has built bridges to humanity, to countries at war and to those who must love freedom, justice and truth at all costs. And in the wake of Pope Francis, the new Pontiff Leo XIV has the great strength to go ahead and to believe in peace to the end, as he did already on his first entry into humanity as Pontiff, on the day he appeared at the loggia of the Vatican Basilica'.
The event took place on the occasion of the 160th anniversary of the Corpo delle Capitanerie di Porto - Guardia Costiera in cooperation with international bodies - such as the United Nations - UNAOC and ICESCO - and institutions from various countries.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the titles of “Ambassador” and “Ensign” were awarded to those who contributed to the construction of the memorial.
Everyone laid a light for the victims "and for Pope Francis".

  • PRESS RELEASE
  • PROGRAMME
  • VIDEO "LIVE"
  • LA CONFERENZA STAMPA
  • LA PREGHIERA DINANZI ALLE URNE
  • INTERVENTI:
    • MICHELE CAPASSO, Secretary-General of the United States of the World
    • DOMENICO BATTAGLIA, Cardinal and Metropolitan Archbishop of Naples
    • MIGUEL ANGEL MORATINOS, s.Secretary-General at the United Nations and UNAOC High Representative
    • MICHELE DI BARI, Prefect of Naples
    • LAURA LIETO, Vice-Mayor of Napoli
    • GAETANO ANGORA, Admiral Commander of the Port of Naples
    • PREDRAG PUHARIĆ, Mayor of Sarajevo representing the "Martyr Cities"
    • HAMDIJA FEJZIĆ, Vice-Mayor of Srebrenica
    • AMIRA ARIFOVIĆ HARMS, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Italy
    • LHASSAN HBID, representing the United States of the World
    • FELICIO ANGRISANO, Admiral f. Commander General of the Port Authority Corps - Coast Guard
    • ENZO CUOMO, Mayor of Portici
    • JON LEJARRAGA, Vice-Mayor of Gernika
    • JOSÉ MARIA GORROÑO ETXEBARRIETA, Mayor of Gernika
  • TGR
  • RAI VATICAN SPECIAL: THE NAPLES SHRINE
  • PRESS REVIEW
  • THE PRESS 1 - 2 
  • THE POSTAL CANCELLATION
  • MEDNEWS
  • INTERVIEWS:
    • MICHELE CAPASSO, Secretary-General of the United States of the World
    • MICHELE DI BARI, Prefect of Naples
    • MIGUEL ANGEL MORATINOS, s.Secretary-General at the United Nations and UNAOC High Representative
    • AMIRA ARIFOVIĆ HARMS, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Italy
    • HAMDIJA FEJZIĆ, Vice-Mayor of Srebrenica