President of Lombardy, Italy, rings the Bell in honor of World Day of the Power of Hope
What happens when the ancient Roman civilization of the West meets the 6,000-year-old Tai Ji Men culture of peace in the East? Continuing the momentum of its visit to the United States in April, the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL) delegation arrived in Italy with Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, zhang-men-ren of Tai Ji Men and president of FOWPAL. They visited many cities and regions, and met with local leaders. On May 13th, Dr. Hong arrived in Milan, the second largest city in Italy, to meet with Attilio Fontana, President of the Lombardy region. The meeting of two ancient cultures created an opportunity for the “heart”. Mr. Fontana rang the Bell of World Peace and Love, prayed for the well-being of his homeland and the world, and expressed his hope for peace. He also endorsed the "Declaration of World Day of the Power of Hope," urging the public to work together to change the world.
The Lombardy region is located in the north of Italy, and its capital is the historic city of Milan. This area has the highest population in Italy, with one-sixth of Italy's population residing here, making it the economic powerhouse of Italy. Lombardy region President Attilio Fontana graduated in law from the University of Milan and previously served as a lawyer, mediator, deputy magistrate, and twice as mayor of Varese. Since 2018, he has been serving as the President of the Lombardy region.
Dr. Hong mentioned in his speech, “FOWPAL has once again returned to Italy, bringing with us the Bell of World Peace and Love. I firmly believe that President Attilio Fontana’s hope for peace and power of hope will surely be conveyed through the ringing of the bell, bringing blessings to the Lombardy region, Italy, and the world. Let us unite the collective conscience of humanity, and jointly promote a culture of love and peace.”
Attilio Fontana prioritizes human rights and dedicates himself to serving the people with the utmost commitment to the ideals of love and peace, aligning closely with the philosophy of FOWPAL. He rang the Bell of World Peace and Love stating, “I ring the bell for peace and love in the world.” Dr. Hong presented him with a Key to the Heart, symbolizing that conscience is the key to a successful life. On that day, Marco Respinti, editor-in-charge of Bitter Winter also witnessed Fontana's bell-ringing ceremony.
The entire meeting took place at Palazzo Lombardia, which is not only the government building of the Lombardy region but also a renowned landmark known for its distinctive architecture and height. Attilio Fontana said to FOWPAL members, “During this time, we need love and peace worldwide. We must stop wars and unite with love for all humanity. Many thanks to FOWPAL and its members for all they do to promote world peace and love.”
Born during World War II, Dr. Hong has understood the importance of peace since childhood. Over the past decades, he has led FOWPAL on visits to 103 countries, advocating for a culture of peace and love through cultural exchanges, World Peace and Love Bell-Ringing Ceremonies, and the World Leadership Summit of Love and Peace. Through gradual efforts, he actively promotes a culture of peace with love and conscience around the world, and has also joined hands with various sectors and the international community to successfully promote the adoption of International Day of Conscience by the United Nations in 2019. In 2022, Dr. Hong proclaimed September 23rd as the World Day of the Power of Hope, urging people worldwide to unite with conscience and power of hope, for the safety of themselves and others, and the sustainable future of the world. He also encouraged people to take action that harnessed positive energy to pave the way for sustainable development.
In this journey, Dr. Hong received two awards - Lifetime Achievement Award from the Creazione Cultural Association under the patronage of the Municipality of Castellina Marittima on May 8th, and the 2024 Turin Global Peace Award from the FEDINSIEME (Faiths Together) Committee on May 11th. These accolades symbolize Dr. Hong's outstanding contributions to the promotion of global peace.
The resonance of the bell conveys love and peace, gathering the sentiments of the bell-ringers and bringing the power of stability and hope. Dr. Hong has visited the world with the Bell of World Peace and Love, inviting influential leaders to ring the bell, inspiring more people to have a profoundly positive impact on the world, advocating for peace for their nation, society, people, and future generations.