Hiroshima - On August 6, Massimiliano Marianelli, Rector of the University of Perugia, took part in the 6th Rectors’ Conference for Peace hosted by Hiroshima University. Coming exactly one year after the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 2025, the gathering reaffirmed the Japanese institution’s commitment to providing a permanent global platform for academic exchange on peace and diplomacy.

The mission in Japan aligns closely with the University of Perugia’s flagship initiative, "Universities, Bridges of Peace," and builds upon the Assisi Charter signed on February 25 alongside 16 other Italian and international universities. The charter calls on higher education institutions to return to their founding ethos as an universitas - an open forum for human connection - and translate that ideal into tangible actions.

Since taking office, Rector Marianelli has made peace advocacy a cornerstone of his administration. In Hiroshima—a global symbol of remembrance and resilience—the university presented its vision of an institution uniting research, education, and social responsibility, grounded in the belief that knowledge guided by ethics is itself a vital instrument for peace.
The conference also provided a valuable opportunity to deepen academic ties with Japanese institutions and forge new international partnerships. Founded in 1308 in the historic homeland of St. Francis of Assisi, anti-fascist philosopher Aldo Capitini, and nuclear physicist Franco Rasetti, the University of Perugia continues to renew its commitment to turning scholarship into a tool for dialogue, inclusion, and global stewardship.