The Pope Leo XIV International Study Centre is collaborating in the organisation of the study day “Narratives. Religions, Identity and Power in a Contested World”, taking place on Saturday, 14 November 2026, in Rimini, in the Aula Magna of the “Alberto Marvelli” Higher Institute of Religious Sciences, at Via Covignano 265.
The event forms part of the Advanced Training Course in Interreligious Dialogue and International Relations, organised by the Marvelli Institute together with the University of the Republic of San Marino. The study day is held in collaboration with the Giuseppe Benedetto Dusmet Foundation and the Pope Leo XIV International Study Centre.
This collaboration reflects the mission of the Study Centre, established within the Augustinian Community of Santo Spirito in Florence to promote education in social and political life and an interdisciplinary understanding of international relations. Exploring the relationship between religion, identity and power means examining how communities understand themselves and others, shape their sense of belonging and interpret the contemporary world.
Narratives do more than describe reality: they help give it meaning and shape relationships between cultures, religious traditions and societies. These questions will bring together scholars from political science, theology, biblical studies, philosophy and history.
The morning session, beginning at 9:30 a.m., will feature Paolo Naso, a lecturer in Political Science and Chair of the Scientific Committee of the Methodist Documentation Centre. His presentation, “The Politics of Narratives. Religion and Identity on the Global Stage”, will explore the relationship between religious narratives, collective identities and international political dynamics.
Contributions will follow from Simona Segoloni, an ecclesiologist at the John Paul II Institute, and Luca Spegne, a biblical scholar at the Marvelli Institute. Luca Turco will chair the session.
The afternoon session, beginning at 3:00 p.m., will feature Maurizio Marcheselli, a biblical scholar who teaches at the Theological Faculty of Emilia-Romagna and the Pontifical Biblical Institute. His presentation, “Narrating Power. The Bible, History and Interpretation”, will bring biblical texts, history and critical interpretation into dialogue.
The discussants will be Nevio Genghini, a philosopher and lecturer at the Marvelli Institute; Alberto Anrò, a scholar of Indian philosophies at the University of Bologna; and Corrado Petrocelli, Director of the Department of History and Law at the University of the Republic of San Marino. Abir Hanna will chair the session.
“The study day offers an opportunity for deeper reflection in keeping with the approach of the Advanced Training Course in Interreligious Dialogue and International Relations: bringing different areas of expertise and research traditions into dialogue to address questions that cannot be understood through a single interpretative lens,” explains Marco Casadei, Director of the Marvelli Institute.
“Dialogue between political science, theology, biblical studies, philosophy and history allows us to explore the different dimensions of narratives and their role in shaping identities and understanding relationships between communities and societies.”
The event is intended for students, scholars and anyone wishing to explore the relationship between religions and contemporary society and gain tools for understanding the complexity of today’s world.
The registration fee is €20.
