Rimini: For more than 45 years, the Rimini Meeting has brought people together across cultures, religions and social backgrounds, offering a place for dialogue, friendship and the search for what people share. On August 22, Pope Leo XIV will visit the gathering, becoming only the second pope to take part in the event in person after Pope St. John Paul II.
The Meeting for Friendship Amongst Peoples, commonly known as the Rimini Meeting, began in 1980 after a group of friends in Rimini wanted to share what they believed was beautiful and meaningful in contemporary culture. Their Christian experience inspired them to create a space where people could come together, exchange ideas and discover common ground.
From its earliest years, the Meeting has focused on dialogue between people of different cultures and religions. Its organisers believe that people can find unity through a shared search for truth, goodness, beauty and justice. This idea, described by Fr. Luigi Giussani as the “elementary experience,” remains an important part of the event.
Over the decades, the Meeting has attracted people from politics, economics, science, religion, culture and sport. Its programme includes discussions, exhibitions, performances and conversations on subjects ranging from international affairs and social challenges to science, art, literature and the economy.
The gathering is also known for its strong spirit of openness. Christians from different traditions take part alongside Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and people who do not follow a religion. Rather than seeing differences as barriers, the Meeting presents them as an opportunity to listen, understand one another and continue the search for truth together.
Thousands of volunteers are at the heart of the event each year. They come from Italy and other countries and often cover their own travel and accommodation expenses. During the Meeting, they help prepare venues, welcome participants, support activities and manage the work needed to dismantle the facilities after the event.
For organisers and participants, this volunteer service represents a practical expression of generosity and selflessness. It reflects the spirit that has shaped the Meeting since its beginning and shows how people can contribute to a common project without expecting something in return.
Pope St. John Paul II holds a particularly important place in the history of the Rimini Meeting. He visited the gathering on August 29, 1982, when it was being held for only the third time. His presence gave international recognition to the young event and highlighted its emphasis on friendship and dialogue.
During his visit, John Paul II spoke about the importance of meeting one another and building friendship among peoples, especially at a difficult moment in world history. He also remembered how the Meeting had grown from the friendship of a group of Christians in Rimini and their desire to communicate their faith through creativity and dialogue.
His appeal to build a “civilization of love” became one of the memorable moments associated with the event. His words continue to form part of the Meeting’s understanding of dialogue, solidarity and responsibility toward others.
Pope Leo XIV’s visit on August 22 will therefore carry a special significance. More than four decades after John Paul II stood before participants in Rimini, another pope will personally enter the gathering and meet the people who make it possible.
During his visit, Pope Leo will go to the Meeting grounds and greet participants. He will also meet people who are sick, people with disabilities and people living in poverty who receive assistance from Caritas.
The Pope’s visit will conclude with the celebration of the Eucharist at Piazzale del Porto, where he will preside over Mass.
His presence is expected to add a new chapter to the long history of the Rimini Meeting, while reinforcing its central message that dialogue, friendship and a shared search for truth can bring people together despite their differences.
For the organisers and thousands of participants, Pope Leo’s visit is not simply a formal papal appearance. It is a moment that connects the present gathering with the event’s history and with the legacy of John Paul II, while pointing toward the Meeting’s continuing mission of building bridges between people and cultures.