The Seal of Peace to the Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama returns to Florence after 20 years to take part in the third edition of the Festival of Religions

At the opening of the festival, the Mayor of Florence, Dario Nardella, presents the Dalai Lama with the Seal of Peace made by Penko Bottega Orafa.

“I have the honour of presenting you with this historic honour, adopted in the 15th century by the Florentine magistracy as a symbol of peace and freedom, because there is no freedom without peace,” explained the first citizen. In the recent past, this seal has been awarded to personalities of international stature. It is an honour for a city that builds bridges and tears down walls”. 

The road to dialogue, he added, “passes through culture, as the true antidote to ignorance, and therefore to fear and indifference. There must be more and more contact with the different, with the foreigner, with the weak”.