The World Meeting on Human Fraternity, entitled “Not Alone,” took place on 10 June in St. Peter’s Square and simultaneously in eight other squares around the world linked by television.
Inspired by the Encyclical Fratelli tutti and organized by the Vatican Foundation that bears the same name, the Meeting sought to promote the meaning of fraternity and to demonstrate how it can be constructed in society through encounter and dialogue, knowledge, shared words and gestures, common languages and the experience of beauty. The 30 Nobel Peace Prize winners who participated in the initiative met with each other and with personalities from the spheres of science, culture, law and international organizations to draft a document to be presented to Pope Francis and to the people around the world who feel called to take up the service fostering friendship in society based on a model of justice and peace.
The event was attended by an international gathering of young people, including representatives from Russia and Ukraine. At the conclusion of the day, the participants all held hands with one another in a big embrace within the colonnade of St. Peter’s Square, an architectural symbol of the universal embrace of the Church.