On 2 and 3 December 2025, the Permanent Mission of Italy to the International Organizations in Geneva and the Permanent Mission of the Holy See, in cooperation with the Associazione dei Dirigenti Italiani all’Estero (ADIE), the Società Dante Alighieri of Geneva, and the Caritas in Veritate Foundation, hosted the presentation of the volume Spiritualità by Michelangelo Pistoletto and Father Antonio Spadaro, edited by Francesco Monico and published by Marsilio Specchi.
On the evening of 2 December, at the Residence of the Permanent Representative of Italy, Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, Permanent Observer of the Holy See, and Ambassador Vincenzo Grassi welcomed a conversation with the authors, moderated by Professor Francesco Monico, editor of the volume. The event was attended by distinguished members of the Italian community in Geneva as well as representatives of civil society.
On 3 December, at the Palais des Nations, Michelangelo Pistoletto and Father Spadaro, together with Professor Monico, explored the main thematic strands of the book: a spirituality understood as a process of “fermentation” capable of transforming the social fabric and individual experiences; the “architecture” of thought; the quest for meaning and for the future; and the need to build a peace that can genuinely dwell within the world, in the context of the immense challenges posed by artificial intelligence. The large audience included members of the diplomatic community, representatives of Geneva’s cultural sphere, and civil society organizations.
The reflection on the relationship between art, spirituality and public responsibility resonated in a particularly meaningful way within the United Nations context in Geneva, where the park of the Palais des Nations already hosts Pistoletto’s permanent work Rebirth – Third Paradise: a major installation composed of 193 stones—one for each United Nations Member State—arranged to form the symbol of the “Third Paradise”, an artistic project that brings Art, Ethics and Politics into dialogue.
The initiative provided an opportunity to reaffirm the commitment of the Permanent Mission of Italy in Geneva to cultural diplomacy, carried out in close coordination with the Holy See and local partners, to promote—through the language of Art as a vehicle for Peace—dialogue and mutual understanding. These values will be at the core of Italy’s engagement as a member of the Human Rights Council for the 2026–2028 term.
