Florence, Italy—The UPF branch in Tuscany region, together with the First Church of Christ Scientist, organized an interfaith meeting to celebrate the UN International Day of Peace.
The following were the speakers at the September 20, 2018, program:
Alderman Massimo Fratini of the Florence City Council, who is responsible for relations with religious confessions;
Aldo D'Onofrio, the president of UPF of Tuscany;
Cristina Cordsen, who handles media relations for Christian Science;
Imam Ataul Wasih Tariq, national vice president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
Alderman Fratini reiterated that cooperation and dialogue among the various confessions are necessary for the development of a community of faith.
UPF-Tuscany President Aldo D'Onofrio introduced the work of the Universal Peace Federation and then read aloud some touching thoughts from the autobiography of UPF co-founder Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon.
After a presentation by Cristina Cordsen on the Christian Science vision of peace, Imam Asaul Wasih Tariq spoke about the book World Crisis and the Way to Peace, which was written by His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
Finally, Pastor Ignazio Cabras, the national director of Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU), an organization that is affiliated with UPF, offered a prayer for dialogue between all those working for peace in Florence.
About 30 people were present, among whom were Mauro Bombieri, a representative of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness; and Pastor Antonio Longo, a representative of the Salvation Army.
The event took place at the headquarters of the First Church of Christ Scientist, a beautiful, historic building located just a stone's throw from the famous Florence Cathedral.