L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2026 www.italoamericano.org L'Italo-Americano 2 W i t h S t . Francis on o u r c o v e r , we want to make a call for peace. Peace is always nec- essary, but it feels especially u r g e n t a t t h i s d r a m a t i c moment, when each day seems to bring news of yet another conflict. To what Pope Francis o n c e d e s c r i b e d a s a " t h i r d world war fought piecemeal," we would like to respond with an approach grounded in hope and in a secular ethic. The values championed by the "Poor Man of Assisi" in the thir- teenth century – respect, justice, humility, care for the most vulnerable, the dignity of every person, and stewardship of creation – reach beyond religious boundaries and speak directly to our shared way of living. Peace, in this sense, is not merely an invitation to lay down arms, it is a discipline asking us to adopt different tools, to find new words, and to act in ways that diverge from the dominant logic of conflict. Francis did not offer ready-made "solutions." Instead, he approached problems with what we might call lateral thinking, an alternative vision that chal- lenged established rules. He went against the current, as demonstrated by his most dramatic gesture: stripping him- self of everything: family ties, possessions, worldly comforts. That act was not only a spiritual metaphor; it represented a radical change of perspective. The greeting "Pace e bene," still used today by the members of the order he founded in 1209, captures the essence of St. Francis's vision of life. It expresses a wish for inner and outer peace, and a commit- ment to doing good as a path to reconciliation and renewal, an ideal rooted in fraternity and the common good. Francis's choice was – and remains – revolutionary because he did not seek power, wealth, pride, recognition, or fame. Instead, he pursued a good that was, and still is, far more profound. Francis lived in an age marked by violence and crusades, y e t h e c h o s e t o r e s p o n d n o t w i t h w e a p o n s b u t w i t h St. Francis, Patron Saint of Italy, and his courageous call for peace From the Editor encounter. His dialogue with the Sultan during the Fifth Crusade remains one of the most striking examples: a ges- ture that demonstrates how peace is not passive resignation but the courage to recognize in the other a human being before seeing an enemy. This is the heart of what might be called "Franciscan peace," an invitation to move beyond the assumption that conflict is inevitable and to build relation- ships grounded in understanding. Turning to our own time, the news reminds us that eight hundred years after his death, and during a year of major celebrations honoring him, Francis'remains have once again been placed on public display. A sign of humility in difficult times. "Like a grain of wheat that falls into the earth," the fri- ars explain, "the body of Francis of Assisi has become a fer- tile seed capable of sprouting and bearing fruit through the centuries." Today, they add, "every gesture of openness, every choice for peace, every embrace of fraternity carries the trace of that seed, which did not remain alone but gave rise to a new story." That, in essence, is the message of the exposition: to sow. If more than 100,000 faithful gathered in the lower basili- ca of Assisi during just one week of the display to spend a moment in prayer and reflection, it must mean something. There is certainly a deep longing for spirituality and commu- nion, but also, according to Fra Giulio Cesareo, director of communications at the Sacred Convent, something more. "This experience of veneration confirmed that people long for fraternity and mutual welcome," he said. "St. Francis awakens in us respect for the other." Yet, he added, "recent international events seem to contradict all this. Standing before the mortal remains of Francis – universal brother, recognized as a man of God from East to West – we call on those who bear responsibility for governing nations to listen to the appeals of Leo XIV and to the desires of their peoples: abandon the path of violence and embrace that of diplomacy, dialogue, and peace." In a world marked by wars and divisions, St. Francis' invi- tation to dialogue offers not only a moral appeal but also a reflection on method: peace is not simply the absence of war. It is a way of living that promotes understanding, respect, and cooperation among individuals and communities. At the same time, it calls us to rediscover the balance with the nat- ural world that we have gradually lost, even when we prefer to deny the evidence. Yet between snowstorms sweeping New York in what should be the final weeks of winter and storms battering the Mediterranean, we should recognize that we are already witnessing the effects of profound cli- mate change. In this respect, too, the "Poor Man of Assisi" was revolu- tionary. Eight centuries ago he urged people to live in har- mony with creation, an intuition that anticipates the modern concept of One Health, which recognizes the deep connec- tion between the well-being of humans, animals, and the environment. This is not about imposing faith through his words. Rather, his vision proposes a way of living based on con- crete, alternative choices: reducing inequalities, protecting the environment, and fostering dialogue. His conviction that we are all "brothers and sisters" calls for a shared responsi- bility toward humanity and the planet. It is a message that speaks to the conscience regardless of religious affiliation and suggests, quietly but powerfully, a revolution in the way we live. Simone Schiavinato, Editor Simone Schiavinato NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS Member of FUSIE (Federazione Unitaria Stampa Italianaall'Estero), COGITO L'Italo-Americano Please send correspondence to P.O. Box 40156 Pasadena CA 91114 www.italoamericano.org L'Italo-Americano Newspaper (a 501(c)(3) non- profit organization), www.italoamericano.org, is the largest and longest-running Italian news- paper in America, not to mention the cultural and news resource for all things Italian in the US. A bilingual newspaper which represents an historical landmark for the Italian American Communities in the West Coast and throughout the US. L'Italo-Americano benefits from subsidies by the Italian Government, Memberships and Donations intended to support and not interrupt a mission that began in 1908 to preserve and promote the Italian language and culture in the USA Periodicals postage paid at Monrovia, California 91016, and additional mailing offices. PUBLISHER Robert Barbera Grande Ufficiale EDITOR IN CHIEF Simone Schiavinato ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER Patrick Abbate EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Barbara Minafra COPY EDITOR Francesca Bezzone LOS ANGELES CONTRIBUTOR Silvia Nittoli SAN FRANCISCO CONTRIBUTOR Serena Perfetto SEATTLE CONTRIBUTOR Rita Cipalla CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mariella Radaelli, Matt Walker, Francesca Bezzone, Luca Ferrari, Stefano Carnevali, Paula Reynolds, Teresa Di Fresco Nicoletta Curradi, Generoso D'Agnese, Jessica S. 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