Throughout history religions have been, on the one hand, a force of civilization, guides for humanity, ethical principles and social cohesion; on the other hand, they were misinterpreted, manipulated and radicalized, used as causes and instruments of war. In societies rich in multiple cultural references, such as those of the Member States of the European Union, the various religions and other cultures can fully assume their role in harmony with the EU order. Already in France, and followed by Belgium and the Netherlands, representatives of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and non-religious individuals bearing different cultures have manifested the vocation to establish a program of interreligious and intercultural dialogue in partnership with prestigious universities such as Sciences Po, the Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain) and the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU). They thus gave life to an association called Emouna (a word of Semitic origin which, similarly to the corresponding Amen and Amana, created from the same root common to different spiritual traditions, means faith, fidelity, spirituality), conceived as an invitation to seek new structures or spiritual foundations on which a society can support itself and evoke a common spiritual source to inspire humanity.

In accordance with the aforementioned experiences, the Luiss Institute for European Analysis and Policy (LEAP) intends to create an Observatory on Europe: Religions and Other Cultures (EURECA) with the aim of developing scientific research activities on political, economic-legal, institutional relations at the Italian and European level between society, religious confessions and other cultures, promoting exceptional mutual knowledge of the different religions and their intellectual and ritual traditions, and deepening the links between Italian and European culture and the different religions and other cultures that permeate the modern society of the EU Member States. Within the research activity, the EURECA Observatory intends to provide a high-level scientific program called Emuna Italia which integrates people from various cultures, professors and ministers of worship (already in practice or in preparation), as well as other individuals with adequate skills and interest in the research project in question. The research seminars will be entrusted to professors of proven excellence in the various scientific fields of reference: they will aim to build a base of fundamental skills necessary for in-depth analysis in analytical processing, for the exercise of responsibility in the field of higher education and training by the religious communities themselves, to allow the enrichment of the knowledge of each participant from a multidisciplinary point of view and to develop a network of knowledge and interactions useful for interreligious and intercultural dialogue.

In particular, this research activity will be aimed at the presentation of individual and collective research projects and products by the participants in the Emuna Italia program, based on innovative and scientifically proven methods, on critical thinking, on team work, on interaction with interlocutors from different horizons, and on conversations with remarkable witnesses.

As regards the organization and programming of the research cycles, it is assumed that the 2024-2025 Academic Year will launch the first cycle of the above-mentioned programs, the objective of which is the production of individual and collective research contributions, which will lead to the participants being awarded with a certificate. For the first cycle, divided into 15 seminars between October 2024 and June 2025, 20 participants are expected to participate. They will be selected and indicated by the various members of the College of Founders, both religious and non-religious.

The Founders of Emuna Italia are: Luiss Rector Emeritus Prof. Massimo Egidi as scientific consultant; Rabbi Emeritus of the Israelite Community of Florence Prof. Joseph Levi; President of the Pontifical Biblical Institute of Rome, Jesuit Professor Peter Dubovsky; Prof. Daniela Scialabba of the Pontifical Biblical Institute; Vice President of COREIS and Imam of the al Wahid Mosque of Milan Yahya Pallavicini; Secretary General of the Islamic Cultural Center of Italy Dr. Abdellah Redouane; President of the Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy from 2015 to 2021 Pastor Luca Maria Negro; Minister of Worship and Vice President of the Italian and European Buddhist Institute Soka Gakkai Dr. Anna Conti; President of the Maitreya Foundation of the Italian Buddhist Union Prof. Maria Angela Falà; Russian-Orthodox Theologian Prof. Maksim Kivelev of the Pontifical Oriental Institute of Rome; and LEAP Senior Fellow and EMUNA President Prof. Fiorella Kostoris.

The EURECA Observatory will be directed by Prof. Valentina Meliciani (Dean LEAP), while the work of the research group will be monitored by the Scientific Committee composed of the Founders of Emuna Italia, coordinated by Dr. Luca Rizzuto and chaired by Prof. Fiorella Kostoris.

The Observatory will also valorize and disseminate the works on the issues indicated above through collaboration with the press and through social media, following an explicit editorial plan of constant communications that will elevate their profile and visibility. The Observatory will publish working papers, articles and books for the dissemination of scientific analyses, developed within Emuna Italia and the Observatory.

emunaitalia@gmail.com