The Temple of Fraternitylocated in Cella, a hamlet of Varzi, at an altitude of 700 m, is a church of deep historical and symbolic significance. The history of this sacred building is closely linked to the events of the last world war, only to go beyond them and prove to be an important symbol of peace and unity between human beings.
The vision of a former chaplain
In the 1950s, a former military chaplain and war veteran from Cella had an extraordinary idea: to build a temple from the ruins of the conflict. His vision was to create a tangible symbol of hope and reconciliation, a call to universal brotherhood that would overcome the divisions created by the war.
The meeting with Monsignor Angelo Roncalli
With great determination, the former chaplain presented his project to Monsignor Angelo Roncalli, then Apostolic Nuncio in Paris, the future Pope John XXIII. Deeply impressed by the initiative, he decided to support the project by sending the first stone, taken from the smashed altar of a church in Coutances, France.
Donations from different cities
On 7 September 1952, a delegation from Paris brought the stone to Cella, where it was blessed by an archbishop and placed in the place where the original altar of the temple now stands. This event marked the beginning of a fascinating series of donations from many cities: Berlin, Dresden, Warsaw, London, Montecassino, El-Alamein, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Each of these cities contributed by sending a ruin of their most important monument.
Symbols of hope and reconciliation
A notable example is Milan, which offered some of the spires of the Duomo that fell during the bombing in 1943, as well as part of the floor itself, which covered the entire presbytery of the church.
From weapons to signs of life
Inside the Temple of Fraternity, many objects and architectural elements have a strong symbolic meaning. For example, the shutter of a cannon from the battleship Andrea Doria was transformed into a baptismal font, symbolising the passage from destruction to life. The decommissioned weapons were laid down and offered, forming the crucified figure of Jesus Christ, seen through the suffering of humanity itself.
The pulpit: an ideal of peace
Made from the remains of two British ships that took part in the Normandy landings, the pulpit represents an ideal of peace that ploughs through the turbulent waves of today's world. The waves, cleansing themselves, leave traces of sand, shells and pebbles, which are collected and arranged in the cases of the balustrade. Each collected element represents a famous river, highlighting the importance of water as a symbol of purification and rebirth.
The Chinese Madonna and the Message of Love
On the right-hand side of the Temple of Brotherhood, several symbols of love and peace can be admired. The most prominent of these is a statue of the Chinese Madonna, which represents the inclusion and acceptance of different spiritual traditions within the Temple. An exhortation to unity among people, regardless of their differences.
An invitation to reflect on the tragedies of war.
The Temple of Fraternity, with its extraordinary history and rich symbolism, is a place of deep reflection and contemplation. Today it continues to be a place of worship and meeting for people from different parts of the world, a constant invitation to reflect on the precious value of life and to promote dialogue and cooperation between different communities.
