Arm in arm, young men and women from various faiths danced the dabke, a traditional Arabic folk dance, in the Italian port city of Ostia, celebrating the arrival of Pope Leo XIV.
Behind them lay the Bel Espoir, a 1944-built schooner that has become a symbol of unity and understanding, carrying young people from across the Mediterranean on a voyage for peace.
“For me especially, it means a lot that the pope believes in the project and he wants to come and meet us,” said 30-year-old Spaniard, Jesus Marro. “He believes in peace and building bridges together.”
Since March, the restored Bel Espoir has hosted around 200 young participants aged 19 to 35 from countries such as Libya, Egypt, France, and Bosnia. Each voyage brings together people of different cultures and religions, all united by a shared desire to promote dialogue and cooperation in a world they believe is becoming increasingly divided.
The current expedition began in Naples and is headed toward Marseille the final of eight stops in the initiative. Participants described the journey as more than just travel; it is an opportunity to engage meaningfully across cultural and religious lines.
During his visit to the ship docked at Ostia, Pope Leo XIV encouraged the group to keep listening and learning in “a world that is increasingly prone to violence, hatred and separation.”
Welcomed with joyful songs, the pontiff toured the cabins and joined the youths in sharing pastries in the vessel’s small dining room. “Today’s world needs signs and testimonies that give hope more than words,” the pope said in an impromptu speech delivered in English from the main deck.
While aboard, the participants—Muslims, Orthodox Christians, Catholics, and those without religious affiliation—share everyday duties such as cooking, cleaning, and keeping night watch, fostering a spirit of cooperation and closeness.
For 27-year-old Palestinian Christina Hilana, from a village near Ramallah, the experience has been “very moving.” Wearing a black-and-white keffiyeh and a gold cross, she spoke of the pain of leaving her homeland amid ongoing conflict. “These two years have been very painful, and leaving my country in this situation has not been easy at all,” she said.
Similarly, 30-year-old Iraqi Muslim Fatima Al-Wardi, who runs a humanitarian initiative in Baghdad, shared that this was her first time seeing the sea. “I wasn’t ready—I’m afraid of water, I can’t swim—but life is short, and when you get a chance, you have to take it,” she said. “Iraq has seen the American army, then civil war between Sunnis and Shiites, and now there’s ISIS. We’ve been through many incessant conflicts, but we still need peace because we believe in humanity.”
The initiative, described by its co-organiser, Catholic priest Alexis Leproux from Marseille, as a “school of peace,” brings together young people daily to discuss key global issues such as the environment, education, gender equality, and intercultural dialogue. “It’s about building a culture of encounter as an alternative to the culture of conflict and rivalry, and that can be learned,” Leproux explained.
When the participants disembark, their mission continues on land through seminars and workshops in cities visited along the route, forming part of the Catholic Church’s 2025 “Mediterranean Encounters” programme.
Reflecting on the spirit of the journey, Al-Wardi quoted a verse from the Qur’an that resonated deeply with her: “Go out, explore people. I created you all so that you could get to know each other… You just have to step outside your comfort zone.’”
What You Should Know
The Bel Espoir voyage, backed by Pope Leo XIV, embodies a growing global call for peace, dialogue, and coexistence among different faiths.
It forms part of the Catholic Church’s 2025 “Mediterranean Encounters,” emphasizing youth involvement in fostering unity and understanding in a region often defined by conflict.
