H.B. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. Introduction by Bernhard Scholz, President of the Meeting Foundation for Friendship among Peoples ETS

At this historical moment, we face an escalation of conflicts and wars that, until a few years ago, seemed unimaginable. The Holy Land itself is devastated by a conflict so deep that reconciliation appears utopian. Every day, the question dramatically arises: how is it possible to live with pain, suffering, and lack of prospects, facing hatred, violence, and indifference to evil? Is there a way that, amidst the most atrocious tribulations, can open a horizon of hope and share buds of peace? 

Gigi De Palo, General Director of Angelini Foundation; Fabrizio Starace, President of the Italian Society of Psychiatric Epidemiology; Michele Zanetti, former President of the Province of Trieste and promoter together with Franco Basaglia of Law 180. Introduction by Marco Bertoli, Director of the Department of Addictions and Mental Health of the University Health Authority Friuli Centrale. Video greeting by Devora Kestel, Director of the WHO Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse in Geneva. The experience of suffering requires someone to share it. When Franco Basaglia arrived in Gorizia in 1961, he noticed the ugliness of the asylum, its brutality, and vulgarity. He found help to close an inhumane chapter. This happened in Trieste, where Michele Zanetti joined him, and together they began another story, this time made of recognizing human dignity, sharing, and openness. What does that revolutionary event teach us today? It continues to indicate the need for patience, closeness, and attention, which we find in new intervention practices, in the constant awareness of renewed humanity, in a delicate attempt at understanding, and in a shared programming between users, families, and operators. It is the experience of compassion by Franco Basaglia and many professionals today that transform psychiatry into an inclusive, dignified mental health project woven with inalienable rights.

Alessandro Bracci, President and CEO of Teddy Group; Maurizio Gardini, President of Confcooperative; Jacques Moscianese, Central Director of Institutional Affairs of Intesa Sanpaolo; Cristina Scocchia, CEO of Illycaffè. Introduction by Francesco Cassese, Management Consultant, Miror Consulting

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly transformed our way of living and working, bringing to the fore new questions about the sense and value of work in our daily lives. This meeting aims to explore whether work is still a vocation that responds to a deep human need or simply a tool to meet material needs. Particular attention will be paid to the new generations, seeking a balance between private life and professional commitment, reflecting a desire for harmony and meaning in their work path.

In collaboration with the Foundation for Subsidiarity

José Manuel Durão Barroso, former President of the European Commission and Non-Executive President of Goldman Sachs International; Branko Milanović, Economist, one of the world's most renowned experts on inequality, Professor at the City University of New York. Introduction by Samuele Rosa, Senior Economist at the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and Foundation for Subsidiarity.

Economy is often thought to produce a kind of single thought starting from the paradigm of classical economics centered on the agent who maximizes consumption under budget constraints and the firm that maximizes profit given technologies. It is assumed that the historical form of the market economy that modern capitalism has taken should somehow lay the foundation for shared prosperity. In reality, this is not the case. Firstly, inequalities, particularly within countries, are increasing enormously. Moreover, the history of economic thought is much richer in reflections on how economic development brings inequalities and what policies need to be implemented to reduce them. We will discuss this with Professor Milanović, the world-renowned economist for his analyses of rising inequalities, who has recently enriched his work by revisiting the major classical economists to reveal their views on this topic; and we will ask the former President of the European Commission Barroso what economic and social policies have been implemented, in Europe and beyond, to address this problem.

Franca Benini, Head of the Veneto Regional Center for Pain Therapy (TD) and Pediatric Palliative Care (CPP), Padua; Davide De Santis, President of Mongolfiera odv; Ferrario, Professor of Oncology at McGill University, Montreal. Introduction and moderation by Marco Maltoni, Medicina e Persona, Director of the Palliative Care Unit of Romagna, President of the association "Sul sentiero di Cicely"

Having an "incurable" disease does not coincide with being in an "untreatable" condition, meaning it is always possible to care for a person with a disease, even when chronic and progressive, or with disabilities. The care of life does not provide the sick person with an automatic answer to the "why" that arise, particularly to the "why" they found themselves in such a dramatic condition, which they did not choose. Care relationships can, however, support the patient's freedom in searching for meaning and the essential, a search that often erupts in a cry in moments characterized by such suffering that it can be annihilating. In the "common vulnerable humanity," as the nurse founder of palliative care Cicely Saunders said, the condition of those being cared for and those who care promotes a path of searching, which can become acceptance of the present moment and the blossoming of hope within a limit. It is as if certain "constraints," rather than limiting the expression of freedom, put it in the best conditions to express itself. The initiator of Italian Pediatric Palliative Care Franca Benini, and palliative oncologist Cristiano Ferrario will recount how, in their experience, there have been "care" of patients and families where a fascinating relationship and gaze occurred.

Stas' Gawronski, television author and teacher; Alessandro Zaccuri, writer. Introduction by Martina Saltamacchia, Distinguished Associate Professor of Medieval History, University of Nebraska, Omaha

The novels of Cormac McCarthy are for many an absolute experience, capable of leading to the incandescent threshold of the mystery of existence, not in abstract terms, but through a language adherent to the concreteness of matter and human action. We talk about it with two exceptional readers, Stas' Gawronski and Alessandro Zaccuri, stimulated by readings from the great literature of the American writer.

Giuseppe Catalano, Chief of Staff of the Puglia Region; Manuela Kron, Corporate Affairs Director of the Nestlé Group in Italy; Alessio Mammi, Regional Minister of Agriculture, Emilia Romagna Region; Giangiacomo Pierini, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Director of Coca-Cola HBC Italy; Andrea Rinaldo, Professor of Hydraulic Constructions, University of Padua. Introduction by Lorenzo Giussani, Director of Strategy & Growth at A2A

From personal to industrial use to water management, a precious resource unevenly distributed across the territory. Comparisons of testimonies and work hypotheses. 

With the support of the Emilia-Romagna Region.

Davide Rondoni, poet, President of the National Committee for the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi in dialogue with Guidalberto Bormolini, monk, writer, thanatologist, founding member of the National Group Sala del Silenzio. Introduction by Letizia Bardazzi, President of the Italian Association of Cultural Centers

In 1224 Francis of Assisi lost his strength, his sight, his voice, his life. And what does he want to make memorable? A thought? A rule? No, a poem. A text that combines praise to the Creator with praise for creatures. He dictates it to his companions so they can sing it, take it with them, offer it to themselves and the world. Today, 800 years later, those words continue to be a torch-text to be passed around, a breath-text to be shared in good and difficult times, a hymn to sisterhood and cosmic fraternity, an invitation to recognize the symphony of creation and the song that vibrates in each of our hearts.

Francesco Bardelli, Chief Health&Welfare and Connected Business Development Officer of Generali Italy and CEO of Generali Welion; Valentino Confalone, CEO of Novartis Italy; Lorenzo Giovanni Mantovani, Director of the Departmental Center for Public Health Studies, University of Milan Bicocca; Paolo Veronese, CEO of Veronese Sicurezza and founder of Passione Sicurezza. Introduction by Riccardo Zagaria, CEO of Doc Generici

The meeting aims to emphasize the importance of prevention as a fundamental element for a sustainable healthcare system. Through constructive dialogue, participants will explore innovative and shared strategies to promote a culture of prevention, ensuring a better quality of life and greater sustainability of the healthcare system.

Curran Hatleberg, photographer; Paul Schiek, founder of TBW Books. Introduction by Luca Fiore, art critic and journalist

River's Dream by Curran Hatleberg is a courageous work that engaged its author for ten years, during which he immersed himself in a reality completely foreign to him, both from a natural and social point of view. But Hatleberg does not conceive his work as the result of an isolated artist, but as a dynamic of collaboration, first with the portrayed subjects, then with the publisher and the book's printer. A dialogue to learn how a great photographic book is born.

Organized by Cdo
Elia Bonacina, CEO of Bonacina 1889; Alessandro Gilmozzi, Michelin-starred chef and President of Ambassadors of Taste; Davide Rondoni, poet. Moderation by Sergio Luciano, Director of Economy

The meeting explores the human qualities that guide ambitious projects to success: the importance of talent, leadership, and dedication, which are essential to bringing concrete, significant, and functional works to life. A precious opportunity to draw inspiration from successful experiences, with the participation of prominent figures in various fields.

Organized by Cdo (social) 

Bernardo Archidi, university student; Fabio Della Vecchia, head of the therapeutic community; Adele Tellarini, technical manager of the Casa Novella project; Irene Zangrandi, university student. Moderation by Monica Poletto, Coordinator of the Legislative Technical Table of the Third Sector Forum

Social works, in Italy and around the world, can constitute a privileged entry point to a reality different from our own, full of needs, wounds, but also embrace and welcome, which we often do not know. What discovery do young people make of themselves and the world when they encounter them? And what change do these young people bring to those who receive them and must make space for them? We want to discuss this with two students who have had experiences abroad, a young person who discovered a professional path through civil service, and a founder who opened up to the richness and diversity that young people brought to the work she leads.

Organized by Tracce
Dialogue with Hussam Abu Sini, responsible for CL in the Holy Land; Andrea Babbi, President of the Petroniana Travel Agency and Vice President of Fiavet-Confcommercio; Adriano Rusconi, doctor. Moderation by Emanuele Boffi, Director of Tempi

Don Giussani's pilgrimage – narrated by Luigi Amicone in On the Trail of Christ – sheds light on the present. What is happening? To what testimony are Christians called? And what does it mean to seek the "essential" in a conflict that sees no solution?

Stefano Gatti, Director General for Development Cooperation; Robinah Nabbanja, Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda; John Makoha, AVSI Country Representative in Uganda; Renzo Piraccini, President of Macfrut; Stephen Tumukugize, young agro-entrepreneur involved in the SAY project. On the occasion of the meeting, video greeting from Frederieke Quispel, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Uganda. Moderated by Giampaolo Silvestri, Secretary General of AVSI.

From the pathways leading to the Global Gateway to the Mattei Plan, the urgency to build a new equal partnership between African and European countries emerges, aimed at fostering lasting and sustainable development for all. To make this possible, we must start from existing realities and success stories such as the SAY project, which will be presented in Rimini as a scalable and replicable model: a four-year project, implemented by AVSI and funded by the Embassy of the Netherlands, that has trained 18,000 young people in Uganda in the agricultural sector, giving them the opportunity to find dignified employment in the field, thanks to multiple partnerships with the private sector and an approach that places the individual at the center.

Organized by Cdo
Augusto Bianchini, President of Turtle srl; Emanuele Frontoni, Professor of Computer Science at UNIMC and Co-Director of VRAI Vision, Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Lab; Pasquale Viscanti and Giacinto Fiore, Founders of AI Week and AI Explained Simply, communicators, authors, and podcasters. Moderation by Paolo Casadei, CEO of ZAL Telecommunications, National Executive of CdO and Fabio Fraticelli COO TechSoup Italy, Coordinator of CdO Informatica Branch.

The meeting aims to explore the opportunities and challenges associated with adopting AI in the business context, through a detailed analysis of current scenarios both nationally and internationally. The focus will be on how companies can prepare and train to effectively integrate AI into their operational and strategic processes. Concrete case studies illustrating the practical implementation of AI in various scenarios will be presented, highlighting best practices and lessons learned. The event will provide an overview of emerging technologies, necessary skills, and training strategies for staff, offering participants useful tools to successfully face the digital and innovative transformation of their organizations.

Organized by teachers and students of Gioventù Studentesca Coffee with... Emanuele Silanos, priest of the Fraternity of St. Charles Borromeo

Paolo Alli, Secretary General of the De Gasperi Foundation; Enzo Moavero Milanesi, Professor of European Union Law at Luiss Guido Carli University; Antonio Polito, Columnist for Corriere della Sera; Paolo Valvo, Exhibition Curator; Paolo Vilotta, Postulator for the Beatification Cause of Alcide De Gasperi. Moderated by Francesco Magni, professor of General and Social Pedagogy at the University of Bergamo

On August 19, 1954, Alcide De Gasperi, one of the greatest Italian statesmen and a founding father of a united Europe, passed away. The De Gasperi Foundation has organized celebrations to commemorate his figure and work, particularly addressing the new generations. De Gasperi, known for his prophetic vision and courage in reforms, left an indelible mark on Italian history and a testimony of unwavering faith. The exhibition “Servus Inutilis,” inaugurated at the Rimini Meeting, opens the celebrations for the 70th anniversary of his death, reflecting on his commitment and personal challenges.

Admission fee - Buy tickets The playwright Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt accepted the proposal to take a month-long trip to the Holy Land to recount his experience in a diary, thus the book "The Challenge of Jerusalem" was born. Now his voice, at times ironic and disillusioned, at times moved and revealing, becomes a narration on stage, leading the spectator on a physical journey, full of unexpected encounters and events, which soon reveals itself as a demanding inner journey. Bethlehem, Nazareth, and above all, Jerusalem: the city of contradiction, a place that speaks of coexistence, but also of unsolved tensions. With an unexpected reflection, made even more urgent by current events, the author investigates the city of the three monotheisms, searching among its streets full of history and suggestions for a credible word of peace. Schmitt's conversion to Christianity, initially born as a theoretical option, takes flesh in this journey to a mystical revelatory event experienced with transport during the visit to the Holy Sepulcher. The movement from the abstract to the human, which the writer must make in this journey of laborious sharing, is very similar to the path necessary for the coexistence of different beliefs: religions could abandon some abstract rigidity, accepting as necessary the different human traits that characterize them. The encounters and places, true co-protagonists of the staging, are evoked with live musical interventions, scenes, and projected images. The dramaturgy condenses the text, initially not conceived for the theater, into a montage of cinematic style that creates rhythm with the juxtaposition of evocative and narrative scenes. The challenge of Jerusalem is an opportunity to publicly express the complexity and urgency of the provocation that comes from the lands of Israel and Palestine. The intricate political contrast here takes on the universal tones of a narrative that seeks the essential in the tragedy, separating accidental factors from an indispensable charity for the human. Based on the work "The Challenge of Jerusalem. A Journey to the Holy Land" by Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt, translated by Alberto Bracci Testasecca. Text adaptation by Otello Cenci and Emanuele Fant. Directed by Otello Cenci. With Ettore Bassi. Live music by Mirna Kassis, Matteo Damele, Filippo Dionigi, Tomas Milner, with video participation by Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt. Assistant director Mauro Pierro, technical OfficinaTeatro srl, video projections Enrico Pazzagli, set design UFO_è Urgente Forzare l’Orizzonte, filming at Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt Marco Barbieri, production secretary Mia Fabbri, organizational secretary Federica Rossi. From an idea by Lorenzo Fazzini. A co-production – Fondazione Meeting per l’amicizia fra i popoli ETS, Fondazione Istituto Dramma Popolare San Miniato, Centro Teatrale Bresciano. With the patronage of the Municipality of Rimini. In collaboration with the Sagra Musicale Malatestiana. With the support of Gruppo Maggioli, Novomatic and Vulcan-Società Italiana Gas Liquidi. The work "The Challenge of Jerusalem" by Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt is represented by the Drama Agency, Paris – France – www.dramaparis.com on behalf of ANTIGONE SA - www.eric-emmanuel-schmitt.com and in Italy by the D’Arborio 1902 srls Agency - Rome – Italy.

Does the Sacred still exist in contemporary life? And if it does, in what forms does it manifest? Despite those who believe it has disappeared, the poet Davide Rondoni undertakes a journey through today's Italy in search of the Sacred, to intercept what is able to resist consumption and generate great things. "Sacritalia" is a story that deepens the knowledge of our country, highlighting an aspect vital to its history and present, thanks to the contribution of a poet capable of investigating with originality a vast and complex phenomenon.