(ANS – Avigliana) – From Aug. 24–26, 2026, at Certosa 1515 in Avigliana, around 30 priests from various regions of Italy and several lay people involved in social work and education accepted the invitation of Fr. Luigi Ciotti and the Libera and Gruppo Abele organizations to take part in a three-day event to share experiences gained in areas marked by poverty, marginalization, addiction, and the presence of the Mafia. Representing Salesians for Social were the national president, Fr. Francesco Preite, and Fr. Antonio Campo, who is responsible for the Salesian Oratory in Caserta and has participated in this event for several years.
From the war in Gaza to the Mafia, from addiction to youth distress, the participants in Avigliana reflected on how to transform criticism into peace, justice, educational responsibility, and concrete action.
Peace That Is Inseparable From Justice and the Recognition of Every Person’s Dignity
Among the most poignant moments was the testimony of Fatena Mohanna, a photojournalist, and Alhassan Selmi, a journalist and videographer — two young Palestinians who left the Gaza Strip in December 2025 and were welcomed by the University for Foreigners of Siena. Their account showed that in Gaza, people die not only from bombs but also from hunger, thirst, and a lack of medicine. Along with lives, schools, loved ones, and the ability to imagine a future are being wiped out.
Even more striking than their words were their expressions, in which images too painful to put into words seemed to resurface. When asked, “What can we do?” the answer was simple and disarming: “We need peace.”
From Kabul to the Sant’Anna Oratory in Prato: A Story of Welcome and Hope
The Palestinian tragedy brings to mind other stories of exile. A few years ago, Salesians for Social Action welcomed several Afghan families who had been forced to flee their homeland into its facilities. Different stories, united by the same plea: Do not leave people who have been deprived of their homes, loved ones, and hope to fend for themselves. Welcoming people and supporting them toward self-reliance is, in itself, a step toward building peace.
Educating Young People in the Rule of Law to Help Them Grow Up “Free to Choose” Beyond the Mafia
The focus then shifted from scenes of war to the violence affecting various parts of Italy. Alessandra Cerreti, Deputy Public Prosecutor of Milan, outlined the transformations taking place within criminal organizations.
The Mafia, ’Ndrangheta, and Camorra are also deeply entrenched in northern Italy, where they find opportunities for investment and money laundering, often in collusion with complacent businesspeople and professionals. The Mafias forge relationships, foster gray areas, and seek social respectability. Combating them is therefore not the exclusive task of the judiciary and law enforcement agencies: it means refusing favors and compromises, raising awareness, supporting victims, and accompanying those who wish to change their lives.
It is within this context that “Liberi di scegliere” (Free to Choose) is situated, an initiative launched in Reggio Calabria by juvenile court judge Roberto Di Bella and the Libera organization.
Salesians for Social signed the protocol on March 27, 2024, alongside the relevant ministries, the Italian Episcopal Conference, and other social and educational organizations. This best practice has become state law: Law No. 131 of July 17, 2026, protects minors, young adults, and parents who wish to break away from organized crime environments. The aim is to break the cycle of Mafia culture and rescue children and young people from a predetermined fate. To achieve this, resources are needed, but so too are associations, parishes, and communities willing to support the rebuilding of relationships, homes, schools, and work.
Leopoldo Grosso, honorary president of the Gruppo Abele, meanwhile examined in depth the new law on home detention for the rehabilitation of prisoners with substance or alcohol addictions. The principle is important: those suffering from addiction must be able to receive treatment, not merely be detained. However, without resources, accredited communities, and qualified staff, the right to treatment risks remaining merely on paper.
Young People Need Genuine Relationships
The discussion then turned to the situation facing young people. Anxiety, depression, self-harm, addictions, social withdrawal, and violence cannot be viewed merely as security issues. Often, they are extreme expressions of young people who do not feel recognized, listened to, or loved. It is striking that some young people seek comfort and advice about their lives from artificial intelligence, perceiving it as less judgmental than real people. This poses a challenge to adults and educational communities: to find the time to listen, offer genuine relationships, and look young people in the eye once again. It is a challenge that Salesians for Social faces daily in oratories, educational communities, and services dedicated to children and families.
But fragility is not the whole story of younger generations. When young people mobilize for peace, the environment, and human rights, their restlessness becomes a precious democratic resource. It is the task of adults to help transform this into participation and care for the common good.
Fr. Luigi Ciotti called on everyone not to separate criticism from concrete action, the rule of law from social justice, or responsibility from mercy. The Church, too, can be a strong ally when it keeps its hands free from vested interests and compromises, educates young people, and stands by the victims.
Together Against the Throwaway Culture
Wars, organized crime, addiction, and loneliness among young people are different realities, but they reveal the same urgency: to care for lives at risk of being discarded. This is the message that emerged from the meeting in Avigliana.
Peace is not merely the absence of war: it takes shape in justice, freedom, and care for the most vulnerable. This is a responsibility that concerns us all and that, every day, calls on us to make it a concrete choice.