Peace knots lead secular scouts to the Perugia-Assisi march
A few weeks ago, the peace knots, woven by thousands of Cngei scout hands throughout Italy, were sent to the embassies of 28 countries (including Israel, Palestine, Ukraine, the Russian Federation, Iran, and Sudan) currently marked by wars and conflicts.
A small material sign, a knot of rope, thus becomes a great universal message : a bond that unites what war divides, a rope that supports those who risk falling, a symbol of hope that calls for peace.
«This gesture must be seen as part of a broader journey that will lead us to the Perugia-Assisi Peace March on October 12th», explains Filomena Grasso , national president of the National Corps of Young Italian Explorers – Cngei.
"In July, we held a community fast, and then, on the occasion of Peace Day, we began a "secular ritual." We stopped to recall the names of all the countries at war and created these knots. In particular, some of our scouts created the "friendship knot," but the ones we sent to the embassies are two simple knots."
The 16,000 members of Cngei chose a simple gesture: tying threads to make them stronger and more resilient. A statement emphasized that each knot represents a commitment not to surrender to hatred, not to give in to indifference, but to choose peace.
"The knot is a bond that is not easily broken: it reminds us that humanity is bound by a common destiny. With this gesture, the Cngei wants to reaffirm that there is no peace without justice and dignity for all people," Grasso continues. Mariano Iadanza , Scout Leader of the Cngei, echoes his sentiments: "The knots of peace are also knots of salvation: ropes that prevent us from falling, that pull us to safety, that keep us united. As scouts, we choose to extend these threads to the entire world, because no war can be justified."
This focus on peace issues has led the lay scouts this year to "officially participate as an association in the March of Peace Perugia Assisi. On October 12th, there will be this green march that will be intertwined like our knots," concludes the president, announcing that pacifist issues will be part of the reflection activities of all the groups in the coming months.
Opening photo by Dan Dennis on Unsplash – Other images from the press office
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