A select group of Christian and Muslim students spent four days in Loppiano sharing experiences and discovering new things. They are part of the ‘Peace Leaders’ project, which involves school pupils, university students and young professionals.
By Paolo Lòriga
‘Here in Loppiano, you can see that the world is changing,’ was one of the comments made by the young Belgians at the end of their stay (17-20 February). These 14 selected young people want to ‘change the world, bring peace by creating initiatives that have the potential to renew society,’ with a focus on political engagement.
There are seven young Christians and seven Muslims, all practising and active in their faith, aged between 16 and 26. They come from various cities in Belgium, from various schools and universities, all chosen to be part of the ‘Peace Leaders’ project, a journey that began in September 2025 and which, in the trip to Loppiano, sought to find a moment of special formation.
They visited Theotokos, Sophia, and the Agricultural Cooperative. They spent time with Gen Rosso and Gen Verde. They participated in a workshop at the Bonfanti Business Centre. They also travelled to Florence to meet the young people of the Giorgio La Pira International Centre and went to Montecatini (Pistoia) to meet Antonella Lombardo and her ‘Academic Dance Workshop’, which is very active, even in the Holy Land, on the themes of peace and dialogue.
The decision to live in the same house, young people and accompanying adults, cooking together, taking care of everything themselves, accompanied by their peers from the Loppiano Youth Project, helped them to immerse themselves in the typical atmosphere of the town. ‘All the young people were struck by the openness and helpfulness of the people,’ comments Ton Jongstra, one of the two creators of the project four years ago, together with Claire Hebbelinck.
Both came to Loppiano in January for a preliminary visit. But they were still surprised by the effects of these days. ‘The young people were delighted. The dinner in the different Focolares was a light to deepen the reasons of those who live for a united world,’ Claire pointed out. The very fact that Lent and Ramadan began during those days motivated everyone to live for one another. So they got up very early to cook a hearty meal for the Muslims to eat before sunrise, which would sustain them until sunset.
‘The Muslims were really grateful that we brought them here,’ Ton reports. Then he comments: ‘Everything served to renew our motivation and to be even more peacemakers in every environment.’ He adds: ‘We discovered that Loppiano has something that goes beyond words, it has a kind of gift that brings out the most beautiful and authentic qualities in each person.’
The ‘Peace Leaders’ programme will certainly gain new momentum now. It will serve as an incubator for four emerging projects: creating podcasts on dialogue, educating for peace, helping those who live on the streets, and organising ‘family dinners’ between Christians,
Muslims and Jews. But other projects involving primary and secondary school pupils and teachers, university students and young professionals will also gain new vigour.
The common goals are to ‘propose dialogue as a new way of life, based on the discovery of one’s inner roots, because peace begins in one’s heart,’ to ‘restore a culture of encounter and dialogue,’ and to ‘build a more inclusive, supportive, sustainable and fraternal society.’ These are lofty and ambitious goals – inspired by the encyclicals Fratelli Tutti and Laudato Si’ and the experience of the Focolare Movement – but they are more essential than ever to pursue in this time of confusion. On 26 April, a national event will be held in Brussels as part of the 2025-2026 programme to raise the profile of the overall ‘Dialogue4All’ project, with the participation of various schools in Belgium.
