Bishop Luigi Padovese, Christians in multicultural and multireligious societies: from the origins to today.

On Friday, May 31, 2024, in the auditorium of the Pontifical Antonianum University, Rome, the official presentation of the book “Christians in multicultural and multireligious societies: from the origins to today” by Bishop Luigi Padovese (ed. EDB, 2024) took place marking his 20th anniversary of episcopal ordination. Br. Luigi Padovese OFMCap, Apostolic Vicar of Anatolia, Turkey, was murdered by his driver on June 3, 2010 in front of the door of his residence in Iskenderun. This posthumous publication, which collects writings by Br. Luigi Padovese from a course on interreligious dialogue that he taught a year before his death, was prepared under the supervision and care of Professor Br. Luca Bianchi, Dean of the Franciscan Institute of Spirituality, and Sr. Chiara Brunetti.

The event was attended by Br. Carlos Salto OFM, Dean of the University, Br. Agustín Hernández OFM, Rector, Bishop Paolo Bizzeti, Apostolic Vicar of Anatolia and successor of Bishop Luigi Padovese, Br. Roberto Genuin, General Minister, Br. Kilian Ngitir, General Councilor, Br. Angelo Borghino, provincial minister of Lombardy, Br. Luca Bianchi, Sr. Chiara Brunetti, Barbara Petrini, some representatives of the Luigi Padovese Cultural Center and many other invited guests.

The meeting was an occasion not only for presenting this interesting work, but also for recalling Bishop Padovese's great work in dialogue, reflection and commitment, and for continuing to promote the importance of interreligious dialogue in a globalized “multicultural and multireligious” world.

Our General Minister took the floor expressing gratitude for the event and recalling the years lived with Br. Luigi at the International College; he highlighted some peculiarities of Bishop Padovese as “a man of synodality and cordiality,” recognizing that “his work was a path of openness and listening to the other.” His speech concluded by reminding all present that “the role of the Christian in this society is unity in Christ who died and rose again.”

After the brief but meaningful words of our General Minister and the reflections of the other guests, activities continued with a period of time for questions from Antonianum students on the topic of interreligious dialogue and culture, addressed to Professors Romano Penna (Pontifical Lateran University), Francesca Coccini (La Sapienza University of Rome) and Marco Bartoli (Pontifical Antonianum University). Finally, Br. Luca Bianchi and Sr. Chiara Brunetti spoke about the process of curating and publishing this work, emphasizing its importance in the multicultural society in which we live. The evening closed with a fraternal sharing.