Andrea Riccardi gives opening speech at 2026 Spirito di Assisi

Andrea Riccardi, founder of the Community of Sant'Egidio, delivered the opening address for the 2026 Spirit of Assisi. During his speech, Riccardi called for a transition from an era of conflict to a period of dialogue.

Riccardi noted that the 2026 gathering commemorates the meeting of religious leaders held in Assisi on October 27, 1986. He observed that while the 1986 meeting occurred during a time when peace was a central political goal, modern history increasingly treats war as a natural occurrence.

The address referenced Pope John Paul II, who sought to establish the 1986 meeting as a day of peace. Riccardi cited the late pope's view that a religious attitude is intrinsically linked to the pursuit of peace. He stated that while peace is rooted in various religious traditions, it is often obscured by historical events.