ASSISI 2025

On 22nd of March, on the occasion of World Water Day, the Sacro Convento in Assisi hosted the first official AB AQUA event. The conference was organised to reflect on the role of water, not only as a vital resource, but also as an instrument of cooperation, sustainable development and peace; AB AQUA recognises in water a powerful symbol of unity, diplomacy and collective commitment.

After the initial greetings of Friar Marco Moroni, Custos of the Sacro Convento, and the President of the Region of Umbria, Stefania Proietti - who both emphasised the symbolic, ethical and political value of water - the conference got into full swing with the speech by co-founder Roberto Natali, who drew attention to the centrality of water in the history of thought and contemporary international dynamics.

To highlight how water can become an engine of positive change, AB AQUA invited exceptional speakers: Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia, Ambassador Pietro Sebastiani, Professors Fausto Pocar and Luciano Bozzo, and journalist Sonia Filippazzi, who shared their experiences and knowledge on how water can become a bridge between peoples.

To open the debate, Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia invited us to reflect on the growing imbalance between scientific progress and nature conservation, emphasising the absence of an ethical and global vision.

Ambassador Pietro Sebastiani analysed the role of water as a possible lever to relaunch international cooperation, which is in crisis today. In his view, water can become a new symbol of unity between peoples, just as coal and steel were after World War II.

Next, Professor Luciano Bozzo offered a historical-philosophical reading of water, quoting thinkers such as Thales, Goethe and Carl Schmitt. He then analysed future scenarios related to the melting of ice and the discovery of resources in territories still without sovereignty. He concluded his speech with a powerful image: humanity is going through a real ‘transition of state’, similar to that of water, given by simultaneous and complex transformations.

In the end, journalist Sonia Filippazzi talked about water by sharing with the audience some audio excerpts from her programme “L'aria che respiri”, documenting moments of water emergencies, floods and water shortages. Her speech had a strong emotional impact, giving voice to real stories which witness the consequences of climate change.

To close the meeting, Filippo Verre, president of AB AQUA, emphasised the strategic importance of water on a global level, explaining how this precious good is increasingly linked to political and social dynamics.

The event proved to be an important opportunity for discussion and reflection on one of the most urgent issues of our time. The speakers' presentations highlighted the complexity and centrality of the water issue, offering different but converging perspectives on the need to rethink the relationship between man and natural resources. In a world increasingly marked by environmental, social and geopolitical imbalances, water proves to be a key to reading and orienting the future.

Below are some photos from the event