An Italian Portrait: Aldo Capitini — The Voice of Nonviolence

Born in Perugia on 23 December 1899, Aldo Capitini was a philosopher, educator, and one of Italy’s most courageous moral thinkers.

He refused to join the Fascist Party during Mussolini’s regime, a decision that cost him his academic post but secured his integrity. Undeterred, he dedicated his life to promoting ideas of freedom, dialogue, and nonviolence, drawing inspiration from Gandhi and the power of conscience over force.

In 1961, Capitini organised the first Perugia–Assisi Peace March, a moving procession that continues to this day as a symbol of solidarity and hope.

Among his most significant works are Elementi di un’esperienza religiosa, Religione aperta, and Il potere di tutti, in which he envisioned a form of “grassroots democracy” based on shared humanity and active participation.

Capitini died in his beloved Perugia on 19 October 1968, leaving behind a legacy of peace that still echoes through the Umbrian hills.

In the picture above: Alberto Apponi, Gianfranco Contini, Aldo Capitini, and Walter Binni were Italian intellectuals, academics, and anti-fascist figures, often linked to Perugia, known for their civic engagement, resistance to fascism, and support for ideas of peace and non-violence, particularly through their adherence to Gandhi's thinking. They collaborated closely with each other, acting as a bridge for important political and cultural movements.

In the picture below: The first peace flag associated with Aldo Capitini was a hand-sewn rainbow banner used for the historic 1961 Perugia-Assisi Peace March, initiated by Capitini, an Italian pacifist, to symbolize non-violence and unity, featuring seven colors inspired by the biblical rainbow and the universal idea of peace, becoming the foundation for Italy's widely recognized modern "bandiera arcobaleno" (rainbow flag) with "PACE".