(ANS – Brescia) – It was not a weekend of idle chatter, but a true immersion in what it means to “get your hands dirty” for the common good. The Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) 2026 Youth Forum, held on March 7–8 in Brescia, brought together over 200 young people from the Italian regions of Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna under a single imperative: “Aim for peace.” And if the title seemed like a challenge, the reality exceeded expectations. The weekend began with an extraordinary welcome from the Bishop of Brescia, Bishop Pierantonio Tremolada, who reminded participants, “In the Bible, shalom, which means peace, is the fullness of human life.”
The “We” That Inspires: Fr. Mattia and Emanuele Fant’s Theatre
The Saturday opening captivated both heart and mind. Emanuele Fant, teacher and artist, broke the ice by transforming the stage into a classroom and the classroom into a theatre: a lesson-show that challenged the participants while never boring them.
Immediately afterward, the floor was given to Fr. Mattia Ferrari, chaplain of the Mediterranea Saving Humans NGO, which rescues migrants at sea. He spoke constantly in the plural—a recurring “we” that comes from prayer and real work among the waves. At the core of his address were two symbols that leave no room for escape: the Eucharist and the Cross of Christ, experienced not as abstract concepts, but as guiding compasses for those who choose to stand with the least among us.
Four Women: When Peace Takes the Face of Courage
On Sunday morning, March 8, International Women’s Day, the “Peace Builders” roundtable presented four powerful testimonies from women that kept the audience riveted. Moderated by Fabio Carminati, journalist for Avvenire, the four women spoke about building a peaceful tomorrow:
- Daniela Pompei, head of the Community of Sant’Egidio and mastermind behind the Humanitarian Corridors, emphasized that security comes from legal reception and that integration is an ongoing process.
- Gemma Flaha, a Syrian dentist who arrived in Italy through the Humanitarian Corridors, shared the humility and effort required to start from scratch, returning to school to rebuild her identity and dignity.
- Lucia D’Anna, an Italian cellist living in Jerusalem, testified via video link about how music can serve as a “cultural bridge” and a neutral space where even those educated to hate can recognize their shared humanity.
- Sara Sechi, Executive Secretary of Don Bosco International, highlighted her work bringing messages and perspectives of peace to the corridors of power in the European Parliament, transforming the Salesian charism into concrete legislative proposals for the rights of minors and young people.
A Desire That Extends Beyond the Forum
Between the courtyards of the Salesian Institute and the homes of Brescian families hosting the young participants, the atmosphere was both serious and fraternal. Many questions emerged, but there was also a strong desire to go deeper and, above all, to listen more.
As Fr. Damiano Galbusera, Rector of the Salesian work in Brescia, reflected: “Violence surprises us when it is ‘big,’ but we often do not notice how it attacks our hearts in words, on social media, and in silences. Like Isaiah’s ‘Suffering Servant,’ we are called not to respond to violence with the same coin, so as not to perpetuate its cycle. The message of the Forum is this: take a chance on forgiveness.”
Judging by the looks on the young participants’ faces after Mass and the Vigil led by the SYM Choir, the lesson had been absorbed: peace is not just a diplomatic option, but a daily choice of ‘disobeying resignation.’ And exchanging a sign of peace had never carried a more profound significance.