The World Takes Notice as HOPE80 Launches in Europe
- lawrencelefcort
- Jul 17
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 7
Over ten extraordinary days, the HOPE80 Peace Delegation was warmly embraced by world leaders, parliamentarians, municipal leaders, academics, and public audiences. Their presence sparked inspiration and heartfelt conversations, as people eagerly resonated and engaged with the delegation's message of peace, hope, and reconciliation.
On the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Winston Churchill, Mahatma Gandhi, Harry S. Truman, and Hideki Tojo launched a historic journey together—carrying the Flame of Hope, a sacred fire born of sixteen peace flames, including those from Hiroshima, Bethlehem, and the Buddha’s birthplace in Nepal.
The HOPE80 audience with Pope Leo XIV on June 18th touched many on a personal level. The traditional baccia manu—a gesture of reverence, kissing the Pope’s ring—beautifully symbolized the respect shown to the HOPE80 delegation. This meaningful meeting was made possible through the support of Religions for Peace Italy and Monsignore Indunil, Archbishop from the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, as well as the Japanese embassy of the Holy See.
"My special greeting goes to the members of the HOPE80 international delegation at the start of the “Flame of Hope” pilgrimage as they seek to promote reconciliation and peace in this year marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War," said Pope Leo.
"May the light of divine love and fraternity always burn brightly in the hearts of the men and women of our one human family. Upon all of you, and upon your families, I invoke the Lord’s gifts of wisdom, strength and joy. God bless you."
The HOPE80 journey also included a powerful address by Tushar Gandhi to the Second Interparliamentary Conference on Interfaith Dialogue in Rome. Flame of Hope founder, Ven. Ryokyu Endo was given a loud ovation following his keynote speech to conference attendees. To cap things off, Hidetoshi Tojo delivered a compelling lecture at Notre Dame University on the life of his great grandfather and why he was inspired to join the HOPE80 pilgrimage.
These engagements opened doors to invaluable new connections—among them, a warm outreach from the President of the Italian chapter of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), who expressed interest in future collaboration.
Recreating Iconic Moments in the United Kingdom
On Sunday, June 22nd, just days after receiving Pope Leo's blessing, the HOPE80 descendants gathered at London’s iconic Abbey Road zebra crossing to recreate the famous Beatles photo in a symbolic moment of global reconciliation. The iconic photo shoot captured the spirit of two years of planning and dreams made real. Many thanks to Positivity TV and Flags & Moss for making this vision a reality.
After the iconic photo shot, filming continued in Parliament Square in central London at the foot of the statues of Winston Churchill and Mahatma Gandhi —an evocative setting for HOPE80’s message of peace and reconciliation. Everyone got a kick out of Tushar Gandhi greeting certain visitors to his great grandfather's statue!
On Monday, June 23rd, the HOPE80 delegates led an interactive workshop with over 80 students at Box Hill International School in Surrey Hills. Towards the end of the discussions, they helped the students draft a Peace Charter for the school. The enthusiastic feedback from students was a powerful testament to the impact of HOPE80's mission.
Later that afternoon, the delegation met with Deputy Mayor of London for Wellbeing and Social Justice, Ms. Debbie Weekes-Bernard, at City Hall. Her warm support and positive interest were truly encouraging.
The next day saw the delegates host a Parliamentary Drop-In event and press reception at Portcullis House. Calum Miller MP, who sponsored the event, as well as Mark Sewards MP, stopped in to offer their support. Also present were Mary Anne Thompson-Frenk and David Solomon from the Memnosyne Institute, one of HOPE80's core sponsors.
After their visit to Parliament, the descendants, along with Japanese world music ensemble Aminadabu, traveled to the Glastonbury Music Festival where they were featured in the opening ceremonies at both the King's Meadow and on the Pyramid Stage.
Talks, workshops, and performances were offered on several of the festival's main stages that embraced the festival's theme—coming together to celebrate the beauty of life, love, and humanity.
The Flame of Hope was also joined by a team of Israeli and Palestinian leaders committed to peace who have worked for reconciliation and change in Israel, Palestine and globally. This tapestry of magical experiences created cherished memories that will last a lifetime.
Following the festival, HOPE80 delegate, Jennifer Teege, the black granddaughter of Nazi SS officer Amon Göth and bestselling author of My Grandfather Would Have Shot Me, was awarded the Luxembourg Peace Prize for Outstanding Peace Activism. Her inspirational work and presence adds an unforgettable reminder of history’s darkest lessons—and the personal courage needed to break generational cycles.
The HOPE80 Peace Pilgrimage continues in September when the delegates will travel to Japan to take part in the World Expo at Osaka on September 21st, 2025, and to bring the message of the Flame of Hope across the country.
Also to launch at the end of July 2025, the Flame of Hope app is a global, community-driven platform designed to inspire, heal, and uplift. Every action taken within the app contributes to a positive impact. As users engage, they earn Impact Points, which are automatically converted into food and essential supplies for underserved communities around the world. Soon to be available on Google Play and the App Store. Stay tuned!
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