(Minghui.org) “Everyone needs to know how the Chinese Communist Party persecutes Falun Dafa and the physical and mental tortures that practitioners suffer. Each of us should do something, however trivial, to raise awareness of these issues,” said Pietrangelo Massaro, Vice President of the XII Municipal Council, Rome, Italy, on June 27, 2026.

Mr. Massaro is also Deputy Secretary of Forza Italia Rome. He attended the rally Falun Dafa practitioners held on Piazza Vittorio, a district in Rome, on June 27, where many Chinese businesses are located. Practitioners from multiple European countries gathered to tell people about the CCP’s persecution and to call for an end to the egregious human rights abuses.

Practitioners held a rally at Piazza Vittorio, Rome, on June 27, 2026 (Minghui.org)

Monsignor Luis Miguel Perea Castrillón, Ordinary Bishop of the Anglican Episcopal Church of Europe, and Antonio Stango, President of the Italian Federation for Human Rights, also spoke at the rally in support of Falun Dafa practitioners, and reaffirmed their commitment to join practitioners to end the persecution. Letters of support from various political figures were also received for the event.

Practitioners held a candlelight vigil in Villa Borghese Park that evening (Minghui.org)

A candlelight vigil was held in Villa Borghese Park in the evening to commemorate the practitioners who were persecuted to death by the CCP.

Rome Councilor: I Stand With You

Pietrangelo Massaro, Vice President of the XII Municipal Council, spoke at the rally on June 27, 2026. (Minghui.org)

Mr. Massaro mentioned that last year, the XII Municipal Council passed his motion calling to stop the CCP’s persecution. He said, “This is the beginning, not the end.” He said he was worried but in the end, the motion passed.

He knew that on the path of opposing the persecution, “We will face many challenges and experience more difficult times.” “Just as I have 16 years ago, I will continue to stand by your side, not just as a politician. Thank you for being here, for your strength and courage, and for the love you show. Keep believing in your values. Thank you.”

He said he first heard about Falun Dafa (Falun Gong) 16 years ago. He recalled his first impression of practitioners, “They are kindhearted people with conscience. I believed in the sincerity of your hearts and felt there was something we could do together.” He said his original intention remains unchanged.

He participated in many of the practitioners’ events and understood why practitioners persevere, “They possess immense inner strength and spiritual power. They truly believe in their values and uphold them with courage. I believe this is a universal principle: when you have deep conviction in certain values, nothing can stop you.”

He said he’s received many messages from the CCP during the past 16 years. “I had moments of fear, especially when Chinese institutions sent me messages making it clear that I should stop. But I kept going. I never thought about giving up, because that would have meant betraying the trust of the many practitioners who believed in me. I always felt that if I gave up, I would be betraying their trust, and I couldn’t leave them behind.”

In his speech, he said that the performance of Tian Guo Marching Band let him feel the drive, which dispelled the fear that had once lingered in his mind. “Seeing all these people—the practitioners, and even the passersby who stop to watch; the band members came from [countries] across Europe; groups coming from every corner of the globe—it moves me deeply. It confirms that we must not give up. We must press on, because demonstrations like these show us that we are on the right path. We are on the right side of history.

“I cannot tolerate injustice. suffering violence or mistreatment—being persecuted. The fundamental meaning of freedom is that each of us must be free to be who we are and to express that openly. I will fight for this my whole life—even if I’m no longer in politics,” he said.

He feels that opposing the persecution is safeguarding human rights and has nothing to do with politics or state boundaries. Although the persecution of Falun Dafa is taking place in China, he said, “Human rights violations concern all human beings. You cannot remain indifferent to what is happening on the other side of the world, because we are all citizens of a single world. Just because a people live somewhere else doesn’t mean I cannot care. No. I feel part of one world; if others are suffering and being persecuted, it is as if I were being persecuted myself. That is what human rights are about.”

He said he knew clearly from his experience that the CCP has extended the persecution to other countries. “Unfortunately, this persecution has grown beyond just China. It has crossed borders. But this shouldn’t frighten us—it should help unite the world. So, if their strategy involves reaching beyond their own continent and country, we have the means to spread the word internationally about what is happening. We can ensure that far more people learn about this persecution and join the fight alongside us.”

Italian Federation for Human Rights Will Continue Supporting Practitioners

Antonio Stango, President of the Italian Federation for Human Rights, addressed the rally. (Minghui.org)

Antonio Stango, President of the Italian Federation for Human Rights, said he’s aware of the CCP’s transnational repression. In his speech, Mr. Stango said, “Because Falun Dafa is based on three principles—Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance—no government should oppose these values. For some years now, we have also been focusing heavily on the issue of transnational repression.”

He mentioned that the CCP intended to stop Shen Yun from performing, but Shen Yun “successfully showcase the beauty of these dances and traditions, which span millennia and are shared by all of you.

“As the Italian Federation for Human Rights, we will continue to stand with all of you—support the right to practice Falun Dafa and uphold the cause of freedom,” he said. “The disinformation spread by the Chinese communist regime permeates every information channel across the globe. We must counter this. The initiatives like the one taking place over these two days in Rome help us show people the beauty and importance of these three principles [Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance] and of Falun Dafa as a whole. Thank you.”

He said he heard of Falun Dafa over 20 years ago. His first impression lingers, “People decide to live by following the three principles. This is a spiritual practice. Thus I respect it very much.”

To oppose the CCP’s persecution, “The only way is to keep our principles and maintain nonviolence, while stating the facts and other principles.”

Bishop:Speaks for the People Being Persecuted

Monsignor Luis Miguel Perea Castrillón, Ordinary Bishop of the Anglican Episcopal Church of Europe, addressed the rally. (Minghui.org)

To let people know about the persecution occurring in China and the practitioners’ perseverance, Bishop Luis Miguel Perea Castrillón turned on his live online broadcast while he participated in the event.

Regarding Falun Dafa’s principles, he said, “These are the basis of our society. We should promote them. The suffering endured by Falun Dafa is the same as the persecution faced by early Christians. Therefore, our strength lies in knowing that we are on the right path and conveying the right message—and, above all, that we must persevere and never give up.

“We have to go on. We have the duty to raise our voice for who cannot,” he said in his speech.