VIDES Youth: Missionaries of Hope for a Changing World

The international Christian music festival known as Il Mondo Canta Maria marked its history across Italy and abroad, organized and promoted by the Catholic radio broadcaster Radio Kolbe based in Schio, according to historical materials published by the station. Founded on April 30, 2000, during the Jubilee Year, the event originated from an idea by Christian singer-songwriter Roberto Bignoli. Radio Kolbe operates in connection with the Movimento Mariano Regina dell’Amore di Schio.

Over two decades, the festival established an annual schedule and built a recognized identity within the international Christian music landscape, as documented by local and national print, radio, and television outlets. By 2005, organizers expanded the event beyond its initial annual staging in Schio, launching an itinerant tour that brought concerts to public squares, theaters, sports arenas, churches, and sanctuaries across Italy and internationally.

Festival Milestones and Pandemic Rescheduling

Over the course of the project, the initiative produced 99 evenings of music and testimony across Italy and abroad. Organizers noted that seven concerts were confirmed for the 2020 season but had to be postponed due to the health emergency. In promotional materials released following the disruptions, organizers expressed gratitude to volunteers and looked ahead to the milestone 100th concert.