Andrea Riccardi, president of the Dante Alighieri Society and founder of the Community of Sant'Egidio, will deliver the keynote lecture during the inauguration ceremony of the 2021–22 academic year at the University of the Republic of San Marino. For the occasion, he will also receive an honorary doctorate in Historical Sciences.
A historian, activist, and politician, Riccardi served as Minister for International Cooperation and Integration in the Italian government. Since 2015, he has led the Dante Alighieri Society, dedicated to the protection and promotion of the Italian language worldwide, with initiatives including conferences, awards, scholarships, artistic events, courses, and more. The Community of Sant'Egidio, founded in 1968, is a Christian organization spread across over 70 countries worldwide and committed to peace, interfaith dialogue, and aid for the poor.
Riccardi's activities include those carried out as a peace mediator in countries such as Mozambique, Guatemala, Ivory Coast, and Guinea. Time magazine included him among the 36 "modern heroes" of Europe who distinguished themselves for professional courage and humanitarian commitment in 2003.
During the ceremony, scheduled for 3:00 PM on Tuesday, October 19, in the Sala Arengo of the Kursaal Congress Center, the Rector of the University of San Marino, Corrado Petrocelli, and the Secretary of State for Education and Culture, Andrea Belluzzi, will speak. Historians Luciano Canfora and Massimo Mastrogregori will also speak at the awarding of the honorary degree.
