Lugano, World City of Peace

From 22 to 25 September 2006, the World Organization for Peace (OMPP · WOFP) held the congress “Religions and the media contributing to peace” in Lugano, Switzerland. At its close, on 25 September, the organization named Lugano a World City of Peace.

The congress saw the presentation of the book Football and Peace in the World, with peace messages from the heads of the world’s 207 football federations, the six continental confederations and the President of FIFA. OMPP also honoured FIFA for its contribution to world peace.

What a World City of Peace is

Every year, OMPP’s Council of Communicators and its Supreme Interfaith Council, with representatives of religions and faiths from more than 37 countries, choose a World City of Peace. The designated city becomes a model for others for its spirit of solidarity, civic education and promotion of a culture of peace, and its highest authority becomes an honorary ambassador for peace.

Sources: Peace Missions, OMPP (in Spanish) · OMPP speech at the World Council of Churches, 2007 (in Spanish).