Bari and Ukrainian children joined hands to become the heart of “United for Brotherhood,” a special day celebrating peace, unity, and hope. Conceived as a symbolic embrace between the city of Bari and the Ukrainian people, the event featured educational and cultural activities with a strong environmental and social message.
With the support of the Women of Coldiretti Puglia and Campagna Amica, and in collaboration with the World Farmers Markets Coalition, the children planted “seeds of life” and aromatic herbs—simple yet powerful gestures carrying a message of renewal. The celebration was promoted by the Embassy of Ukraine to the Holy See and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, alongside the Consulate General of Ukraine in Italy.
A highlight of the day was the donation of an olive tree by Coldiretti Puglia—a timeless symbol of peace. The tree will embark on a journey from Bari to Rome, where it will be blessed by Pope Leo XIV, before continuing on to one of the cities most deeply marked by the war in Ukraine. Amid songs, dances, prayers in different languages, and the exchange of small gifts, children filled the churchyard with T-shirts, flags, and smiles in the colors of Ukraine, creating a moment of genuine fraternity and shared hope.
“Agriculture and food must become instruments of peace. And when children are the ambassadors, the path toward unity and brotherhood becomes even more powerful. Hunger is an increasingly urgent emergency, and during his recent meeting with FAO leaders, Pope Leo XIV once again denounced the gravity of the situation,” said Pietro Piccioni, director of Coldiretti Puglia.
Pope Leo XIV spoke of the “ongoing tragedy of hunger and malnutrition,” calling it “all the more shameful when we recognize that the Earth produces enough food for all humanity. Despite international commitments to food security, it is deplorable that so many of the world’s poor still lack their daily bread.” He also denounced the use of hunger as a weapon of war—“a low-cost war”—and warned that global food security continues to deteriorate, threatening the achievement of the Zero Hunger goal of the 2030 Agenda. The Pope also underscored the environmental dimension of this crisis.
“This is the vision guiding Coldiretti’s mission. While Europe accelerates rearmament and the voice of dialogue fades, the needs of agriculture and food security remain unanswered. As history teaches us, the first to suffer the consequences of war are children—and also the farmers who feed them. But it is precisely from the land that a new hope for peace can take root,” added Rita Tamborrino, leader of the Women of Coldiretti Puglia.
“In such a complex geopolitical moment, gathering around food and agriculture is also about building a bridge of peace—creating a space where people, cultures, and stories intertwine in solidarity and hope. Our goal is to shape a sustainable, inclusive, and locally rooted agricultural model that remains open to international dialogue,” said Carmelo Troccoli, director of the Campagna Amica Foundation and the World Farmers Markets Coalition.
“Producing food,” Pope Leo XIV concluded, “is not enough. We must ensure that food systems are sustainable and provide healthy, affordable diets for all. This means rethinking and renewing our food systems in a spirit of solidarity—moving beyond the logic of ruthless exploitation of creation, and redirecting our efforts toward the care of the land and its resources.”
Bari, July 15, 2025
