Italian Communities Mark World Refugee Day with Cultural Events

From 14 to 18 September 2026 the Abbazia di San Paolo d'Argon in Italy hosted a series of activities to mark the World Migrants and Refugees Day. The event began with the official presentation of Pope Francis’ message “Anche uno solo di questi bambini,” emphasizing the rights and dignity of migrant children. The abbey was turned into a cultural laboratory featuring a short‑film showcase in partnership with the IFF – Integrazione Film Festival and an art installation titled “Anche io” created by artist Paolo Baraldi.

On 4 August in San Severino Lucano, local cooperatives Medihospes and Lilliput‑BeHuman jointly celebrated World Refugee Day. The programme included a water‑foam party for families, an inflatable play area for children, and collaborative art projects where residents and refugee youths painted a shared canvas. An exhibition of works by the refugees, curated by artist Sandra Simonetti, highlighted themes of peace, inclusion and intercultural dialogue.