(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners in Italy gathered in Bologna on May 10, 2026, to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day, which falls on May 13 each year. Close to 50 practitioners from different parts of Italy held celebratory activities on the Piazza della Pioggia, Bologna’s historic city center. They introduced Falun Dafa to local residents and tourists, and raised awareness about the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution of the practice.

Falun Dafa practitioners held an event at the Piazza della Pioggia, Bologna’s historic city center, on May 10, 2026, to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day. (Minghui.org)

Falun Dafa, also called Falun Gong, was first introduced to the public on May 13, 1992, by Mr. Li Hongzhi. It is a cultivation practice based on the core principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance. Over the past 34 years, Falun Dafa has spread to more than 100 countries and regions and has received over 10,000 commendations from governments worldwide. Falun Dafa’s main book Zhuan Falun, has been published in more than 50 languages.

On the day of the event, passersby on the Piazza della Pioggia watched the practitioners do the group exercises with enthusiasm and delight.

“I also want to try out this kind of cultivation!” said one person, and many asked, “Where can I learn this practice?”

Many people had not heard about Falun Dafa before, and quite a few said they were deeply moved watching the practitioners doing the exercises and meditating together so peacefully and harmoniously. Some even joined in with the group practice and followed along with the exercise movements. They asked for the address of practice sites and expressed their gratitude to practitioners for sharing the practice.

Practitioners also had an information booth on Piazza della Pioggia, which is located on the corner of a main street in the historic center of Bologna. Local people and tourists picked up information about Falun Dafa and many signed a petition calling for an end to the CCP’s forced organ harvesting of Falun Dafa practitioners and other prisoners of conscience.

Although the CCP is investing resources to suppress truthful reporting of its persecution of Falun Dafa in the international media, when faced with the facts, people were deeply moved. They thanked practitioners for letting them know about the ongoing genocide of those who practice Falun Dafa in China.

After being told about Falun Dafa, many people signed the petition to show their support for an end to the persecution. (Minghui.org)

The practitioners collected many signatures that day. Although it rained in the afternoon, twice interrupting the event, practitioners carried on with the activities. After the rain cleared, the sun reappeared and large numbers of tourists, still gathered in the city center, enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about Falun Dafa.