The ship’s current and final journey began in Naples and will end in Marseille, the eighth stop….reports Asian Lite News
Laughter, music, and a rhythmic dabke dance echoed through the port of Ostia as young people from across the Mediterranean celebrated the visit of Pope Leo XIV aboard the Bel Espoir, a restored 1944 schooner carrying a powerful message of peace.
The ship, whose name means “Beautiful Hope,” has been sailing since March with over 200 youth aged 19 to 35 — Muslims, Christians, and non-believers alike — from countries including Libya, Egypt, France, Bosnia, Palestine, Iraq, and Spain. Their mission: to sail the Mediterranean promoting dialogue and unity in a time of rising global conflict.
“This voyage is about building bridges,” said Jesus Marro, a 30-year-old Spaniard. “For me especially, it means a lot that the pope believes in this project and came to meet us. He believes in peace.”
The ship’s current and final journey began in Naples and will end in Marseille, the eighth stop. At each port, the group organizes discussions and workshops on themes such as education, cultural dialogue, the environment, and the role of women.
On Friday, Pope Leo XIV boarded the Bel Espoir while it was docked in Ostia, near Rome. Greeted with singing and smiles, the pontiff explored the cabins, shared pastries with the crew, and delivered an unscripted message on deck.
“Today’s world needs signs and testimonies that give hope more than words,” he said in English. “You are showing that peace can be built in everyday gestures — in listening, helping, and living together.”
Participants take turns cooking, cleaning, and doing night shifts onboard, forging close connections despite their differences. For many, the experience is deeply personal.
“This journey has been very moving,” said 27-year-old Christina Hilana, a Palestinian from a village near Ramallah. “These two years have been very painful, and leaving my country in this situation has not been easy at all.” Wearing a keffiyeh and a gold cross around her neck, she said the voyage offered rare moments of hope.
For Fatima Al-Wardi, a 30-year-old Muslim humanitarian worker from Baghdad, it 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 take it,” she said.
“Iraq has seen the American army, civil war between Sunnis and Shiites, and then Daesh. We’ve lived through so much conflict, but I still believe in peace — because I believe in humanity.”
The initiative, part of the Catholic Church’s 2025 “Mediterranean Encounters,” was co-organized by Catholic priest Alexis Leproux from Marseille. He called the ship a “school of peace.”
“Every day, these young people exchange views on what matters — their dreams and struggles. It’s about building a culture of encounter, not conflict,” he said.
Onboard, Fatima shared a Quranic verse that inspired 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.”
As the Bel Espoir continues its journey, its passengers carry with them more than memories — they carry a shared vision of peace, woven from many faiths, faces, and voices.
