On Saturday 13 June 2026, a futsal tournament for peace took place in Differdange, on the outdoor pitch of the International School of Differdange and Esch-sur-Alzette (EIDE). A good dozen teams took part throughout the day, in a spirit of fellowship, respect and community.
At the invitation of Sandro Sandini, a pastoral worker involved in social ministry, Ad Pacem was able to run a stand during the tournament. The stand was manned by Natalya Pantaleoni, the association’s vice-president, and Christian Welter, the treasurer.
The tournament provided a particularly conducive setting for dialogue. Between matches, many young people and visitors stopped by the stand to chat with us. In particular, we presented the Ad Pacem 2026 calendar, which vividly illustrates the awareness-raising and solidarity work carried out by our association. We also drew attention to the plight of Ukrainian civilian victims captured by Russian forces – a reality that is often overlooked, but which lies at the heart of our current commitment.
Several young participants agreed to write a few words of hope for these victims. These messages will be translated and then sent on, so that people scarred by captivity, violence and exile may receive a sign of support from Luxembourg. This simple yet deeply human gesture gave a very tangible dimension to the theme of living together: taking the time to think of those who are suffering, offering them a word of fellowship and reminding them that they have not been forgotten.
We also organised a board game on the theme of peace, which provided a simple and fun way to explore issues such as respect, mutual aid, dialogue and non-violence.
The day was also marked by a visit from Patrick Muller, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Luxembourg. To mark St Anthony’s Day, he blessed the loaves of bread, which were then shared amongst everyone present.
At the end of the tournament, each participant received a medal to remind them that what really mattered lay elsewhere: in taking part, mutual respect, team spirit and the desire to make this day a symbol of peace.
