At the invitation of the Holy See’s Dicastery for Culture and Education, Rock El Achy, Director of the Lebanese Institute of Educators at Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ), participated in the Vatican congress “Drawing New Maps of Hope,” held on October 22 and 23, 2026. In his presentation, “Educating for Peace in a Country Torn Apart,” subtitled “LIE-BAN: From Active Citizenship to Heritage as a Means of Dialogue,” El Achy introduced the third phase of the interdisciplinary LIE-BAN project, “Objects and Heritage in Dialogue.” Engaging 33 schools and educational institutions, the project uses cultural heritage to promote dialogue and cooperation. It also complements the School of Citizenship initiative, supported by Lebanon’s First Lady, Nehmat Aoun, as part of Generation of Citizens. Both programs encourage students to put citizenship into practice through civic responsibility and a commitment to the common good.

The Lebanese delegation included the Secretary-General of Catholic Schools, university and school chaplains, including Fr. Denis Meyer, SJ, General Chaplain of USJ, as well as mission coordinators and education leaders. Speaking on behalf of educators in Lebanon and around the world, El Achy paid tribute to those who remain committed to peace despite ongoing crises. His address, reproduced below, concluded with a powerful reflection: “I have come to affirm that peace is not merely something we teach children, but something we help them experience through their encounters with others, what unites them, and what is possible.”

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