The Permanent Representation of Italy to the International Organisations in Geneva and the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See, in cooperation with the Association of Italian Executives Abroad (ADIE), the Dante Alighieri Society of Geneva and the Caritas in Veritate Foundation, hosted two days of events dedicated to the presentation of Spiritualità by Michelangelo Pistoletto and Father Antonio Spadaro, edited by Professor Francesco Monico and published by Marsilio Specchi.
A conversation with the authors, moderated by Professor Monico, editor of the volume, was held at the Residence of the Permanent Representative of Italy. The event – organised by Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, Permanent Observer of the Holy See, and Ambassador Vincenzo Grassi – was attended by prominent members of the Italian community in Geneva, as well as leading figures from civil society.
At the Palais des Nations, Michelangelo Pistoletto and Father Spadaro, in dialogue with Professor Monico, explored the book’s key thematic strands: a spirituality conceived as a form of “fermentation’’ capable of transforming the social fabric and individual experience, the “architecture’’ of thought, the search for meaning and for the future and the imperative of building a peace that can genuinely inhabit the world, particularly in the face of the immense challenges posed by artificial intelligence. The substantial audience comprised representatives of the diplomatic community, members of Geneva’s cultural sector and civil society organisations.
The reflection on the relationship between art, spirituality and public responsibility resonated particularly strongly in the United Nations context in Geneva, where the park of the Palais des Nations already hosts Pistoletto’s permanent installation Rebirth – Third Paradise: a major work composed of 193 stones—one for each UN Member State—arranged to form the symbol of the “Third Paradise”, an artistic project bringing Art, Ethics and Politics into dialogue.
The initiative provided an opportunity to reaffirm the commitment of the Permanent Representation of Italy in Geneva to cultural diplomacy, conducted in close coordination with the Holy See and with local partners, with a view to promoting—through the language of Art as a tool for Peace—dialogue and mutual understanding. These values will guide Italy’s forthcoming engagement as a member of the Human Rights Council for the 2026–2028 term.
