Struggles and Immigration in the Mediterranean, the Youth of "Bel Espoir"
The "Bel Espoir" (Beautiful Hope), a ship navigating the Mediterranean, has been on a peace and justice voyage since March 2025. This journey is part of the MED25 initiative, an educational journey for young people, organised by various associations coordinated by the Archdiocese of Marseille.
The goal of this 8-month voyage is to bring the message of peace and justice to nations bordering the Mediterranean. The ship, carrying around 200 young people aged 20 to 35 from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds, visits 30 dioceses along the Mediterranean coast.
During the stop in Durrës, Albania, from August 4th to 6th, 2025, the participants engaged in activities focused on migration realities. They visited places of worship, held meetings with authorities and organizations handling migration, and participated in interactive workshops on dignity, hospitality, and shared responsibility.
Archbishop Arjan Dodaj of Tirana-Durrës emphasised the importance of cooperation, solidarity, and interreligious dialogue in addressing migration challenges. He delivered a message of hope, recalling his personal experience of emigration and stressing that the "Bel Espoir" journey is more than a simple sea voyage.
Albania was chosen as a symbolic location for the journey due to the challenges of migration it faces, a reality shared by many central European countries. The stop in Durrës was an opportunity for the young participants to learn about these challenges firsthand.
The MED25 initiative aims to encourage peace, justice, and solidarity around migration and regional challenges. It seeks to build understanding across religions and cultures and to foster active youth roles in creating a just world where human dignity is central. The journey involves peace education sessions, conferences, and youth festivals, with the next stop being Trieste, Italy, from August 15 to 17.
The "Bel Espoir" journey is seen as an invitation to transform the Mediterranean into a space of encounter and hope. As the voyage continues, the participants will come together for a unique sailing experience, discussing migration challenges in an interactive and intercultural manner, promoting peace and dialogue among Mediterranean peoples.
Traveling aboard the "Bel Espoir," these young participants are immersed in a lifestyle that promotes peace and justice as they journey along the Mediterranean coast. During their stop in Durrës, Albania, they engage in activities focused on migration realities, learning about the challenges faced by central European countries and fostering interreligious dialogue to address these issues.
