A pilgrimage to the Himalayas in 1937 prompted Lanza del Vasto to return to Europe and establish a nonviolent community dedicated to spiritual and social renewal. Born in 1901 in San Vito dei Normanni, the Italian poet, philosopher, and activist spent his life merging Catholic faith with the methods of resistance he observed under Mahatma Gandhi.
Early Development and Encounters
The son of a Sicilian father and a Belgian mother, he attended the Lycée Condorcet before enrolling at the University of Pisa in 1922. His interest in global nonviolence solidified in December 1936 when he traveled to India. During six months with Gandhi, he experienced the independence movement firsthand. A subsequent journey to the sources of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers provided the impetus for his decision to establish a communal movement upon his return to the West.
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He founded the Community of the Ark in 1948, facing significant early operational challenges. By 1962, the organization settled in the deserted village of La Borie Noble in the Haut-Languedoc region. The movement emphasized communal living and manual labor, expanding its presence over the following decades into countries including Belgium, Spain, Italy, Ecuador, and Canada. While membership fluctuated due to internal conflicts and aging demographics, the community maintained a focus on his distinct philosophical tenets.
Nonviolent Activism and Public Protests
His commitment to nonviolence manifested in high-profile public actions. During the Algerian War, he joined figures like François Mauriac and General de Bollardière in protesting the use of torture, enduring a 21-day fast. In 1963, he conducted a 40-day fast in Rome to urge Pope John XXIII to oppose war. His activism extended to environmental and military concerns, including protests against the Marcoule nuclear plant, support for Larzac plateau farmers, and opposition to the Superphénix reactor at Creys-Malville.
Writing and Final Years
He produced an extensive bibliography of philosophy, poetry, and theater, including Return to the Source, published in 1943, and Technique of the Nonviolence. His work explored the ethics of simplicity and the application of nonviolent strategies to contemporary social structures. While working to establish a new community in Elche de la Sierra in January 1981, he suffered a brain hemorrhage. He died on 6 January 1981 in Murcia and was buried at Roqueredonde.
Fast facts
- Born: 1901, San Vito dei Normanni, Italy
- Died: 6 January 1981, Murcia, Spain
- Educated at: Lycée Condorcet
- Key Movement: Community of the Ark
- Major Influences: Mahatma Gandhi, Vinoba Bhave
- Primary Occupations: Philosopher, poet, activist, sculptor
- Burial Site: Roqueredonde
Questions readers ask
What inspired Lanza del Vasto to found his community?
Following a six-month period with Mahatma Gandhi in India and a subsequent vision during a pilgrimage to the Himalayas in 1937, he returned to Europe with the mandate to build a nonviolent community.
What were the primary focuses of his activist work?
He advocated against the use of torture in the Algerian War, challenged nuclear energy developments in France, opposed the expansion of military bases, and pressured the Catholic Church to take a firm stance against war.
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