Bari hosts Jehovah's Witnesses baptism ceremony for 107 new members

From 12 to 28 June 2026, three Jehovah's Witnesses congresses titled “Felici per sempre” were held at the Fiera del Levante in Bari, Italy. The events attracted more than 22,000 participants from Puglia, Basilicata, Molise and Abruzzo. During the Saturday sessions, 107 adults were baptized by full immersion, following the biblical model of Jesus’ baptism.

Giuseppe Carbonara, the regional spokesperson, emphasized that baptism is a personal decision made after months or years of Bible study and that only adults, not children, are baptized. One of the new members, 42‑year‑old Gianfranco from Foggia, recounted his past involvement in crime and how studying the Bible helped him change his life. Carbonara added that the joyful atmosphere had a noticeable impact on those present.

The Jehovah's Witnesses organization reports that worldwide over 304,000 people were baptized last year, with more than 3,800 in Italy. The 2026 Italian schedule includes 67 congresses across 18 cities, continuing the tradition of free, three‑day gatherings without collections.