The Miracle of a New Life: A Sign of Hope for the World
“The Gift of Life: Birth” was the theme of the webinar held on Monday, 16 June, 2025, organised by the Interreligious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD Italy). This was the second event in the public online series titled “The Course and Value of Human Life: Spiritual Dimension and Practical Living”, which comprises six events scheduled for 2025. The series aims to explore, from an interreligious perspective, the profound meaning of human existence through three fundamental stages: birth, family, and the end of life.
The meeting opened with remarks by Mr. Michele Cavallotto, coordinator of IAPD-Italy, who stressed that “the birth of a new life is something extraordinary, miraculous—a true gift”. He further highlighted the importance of nurturing not only the physical growth of the newborn but also their spiritual development, stating that “within each of us is the breath of life that comes from God, as recounted in Genesis”.
After a word of welcome, Mrs. Maria Gabriella Mieli, Director of External and International Relations for the Universal Peace Federation (UPF-Italy) and moderator of the event, introduced the first speaker, Father Jacques Serge Frant, a monk of the Melkite Greek-Catholic Church.
Father Frant delivered an in-depth reflection on the meaning of birth, linking it to key moments in the life of Jesus: the Annunciation, the Visitation, and the Nativity. Every life, he stated, should be lived as a mission of love and a message of hope for the world. Referring to the Visitation, he recalled the miraculous moment described in the Gospel when the child in Elizabeth’s womb, John, leaped at the sound of Mary’s greeting, recognising the presence of the Messiah.
According to Father Frant, without this Gospel episode, we would lack a fundamental testimony: that life begins at the very moment of conception—a true “explosion of life”. He also addressed the confusion in modern scientific thought between “life” and “form”, affirming that form is the result of life but not its essence. Life itself is sacred, he argued, and transcends all conditions or limitations.
Drawing on the encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus, Father Frant explored the theme of spiritual rebirth, which takes place through baptism but also each time we encounter the Lord anew. Faith, he concluded, must be lived as a continual experience of inner renewal, culminating in our conformation to the resurrection of Christ, the symbol of new life.
The second address was delivered by Mr. Sergio Coscia, Director of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) for Turin and the Piedmont region.
Mr. Coscia presented the founding principles of this affiliated organisation, also established by UPF founders Dr. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, which place the “heart of God” and establishing harmonious families at the centre of peacebuilding. He described marriage as “the birth of a new form of life”, where man and woman become “one flesh”, reflecting the image of God. This union, he stated, is both a blessing and a consecration.
A key turning point in married life, Mr. Coscia explained, is the birth of children—a moment that transforms the couple into a family, a true “school of love”. He then quoted Father Moon: “Through the birth of children born from love, human beings can discover the depth of God’s heart, with which He created them and gave rise to all things”.
The speaker stressed the importance of the conception and gestation period, encouraging parents to live it through prayer and meditation. He also described some of the ceremonies and rituals practised by the Family Federation to celebrate these moments. The birth of a child, he noted, also represents a new beginning for the parents themselves, who acquire a new identity and are given the opportunity to exercise unconditional love—capable of transforming and enriching their lives. Mr. Coscia concluded by presenting earthly life as preparation for “our final birth, into the eternal world of the spirit”, where the quality of love cultivated in this life will determine the nature of our eternal existence.
The webinar moved toward its conclusion with a reflection from Mrs. Maria Gabriella Mieli, who emphasised the importance of a community-based—rather than merely family-based—approach to individual growth, quoting the African proverb: “It takes a village to raise a child”.
The last to speak, Mr. Carlo Zonato, President of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF-Italy), observed that the event had offered numerous insights into the sacredness of life, love, family, and spirituality. Birth, he affirmed, is not an endpoint but rather the beginning of a lifelong journey of growth and renewal—both personal and collective.
Mr. Zonato concluded by announcing that the next event in the series will take place in September and will focus on the theme of marriage and family.