The Announcement

FLORENCE — Warm congratulations are due to Mr. Tom Wegner, Co-founder and CEO of the Abrahamic Movement, on his forthcoming knighthood by the Parte Guelfa of Florence. According to the announcement provided by Dr. Omid Honari, the investiture is scheduled for Saturday, 14 November 2026, in Florence, recognising Wegner’s commitment to bringing people of Abrahamic faiths and beyond into a more harmonious and peaceful relationship. His leadership role reflects a career that has encompassed writing, communications and international engagement.

The occasion is an opportunity not only to celebrate an individual honour, but to acknowledge the collective purpose behind his work: building connections across communities, encouraging dialogue and seeking alternatives to violence.

An Honour Received on Behalf of a Shared Mission

Dr. Omid Honari, Vice President for Communications and Engagement of the Abrahamic Movement and a Senator of the Parte Guelfa, describes the knighthood as recognition of a lifetime of service and leadership in pursuit of peace. Wegner’s response places that recognition firmly in a collective context:

“It is a great honor for me to accept this knighthood on behalf of all members of the Abrahamic Movement and the mission we bring to the world—bridging communities and halting the bloodshed.”— Tom Wegner

He thanks the Parte Guelfa for recognising that mission and expresses personal appreciation to Honari for the work undertaken behind the scenes, turning an institutional honour into a moment of fellowship and renewed commitment.

The History Behind the Parte Guelfa

The Parte Guelfa draws its identity from medieval Florence. Its own historical account traces its establishment to 1266 under Pope Clement IV, amid the struggle between the Guelfs, associated with the papal cause, and the Ghibellines, associated with imperial authority. Over time it grew into a wealthy and influential institution with governing bodies, property and ceremonial and charitable duties (history).

On 18 September 1549, Cosimo I de’ Medici’s Law of Union redirected its responsibilities toward the care and administration of the territory, including riverbanks, bridges, tree-cutting and disputes between landowners—the historical foundation of the environmental mission it emphasises today.

Dante Alighieri’s story adds depth but must be told precisely: he supported the White Guelf faction and was exiled in 1302 after the conflict between White and Black Guelfs, never returning to Florence. The Guelf world was far from unified.

Interruption and Revival: A Timeline

An accurate account distinguishes medieval origins from uninterrupted operation. The Parte Guelfa’s accounts describe an interruption in 1769 and a reactivation by public deed on 25 March 2015. It is therefore best described as an institution of medieval origin, revived in the present day. Select a date below to explore.

The choice of 25 March for the 2015 reconstitution was symbolic: it marked the traditional Florentine New Year. This distinction also clarifies the honour itself: it is conferred by today’s Parte Guelfa within its ceremonial tradition, not by the Pope.

From Care of the Land to Fellowship Across Communities

Today the Parte Guelfa describes its work as protecting natural and landscape resources, preserving traditions and supporting cultural, educational and voluntary activities. Since 2015, its membership has opened to people of different nationalities, cultures and religions.

Where Two Missions Meet

The missions are not identical: environmental stewardship and interfaith peacebuilding address different challenges. Yet both express responsibility for a shared world—one for the places people inhabit, the other for the relationships that let them live together.

Congratulations and the Work Ahead

Mr. Wegner, congratulations on this meaningful recognition. Receiving it on behalf of the Abrahamic Movement gives the occasion a generous and collective spirit, honouring colleagues, supporters and communities who share the hope that dialogue can overcome estrangement. Appreciation is also due to Dr. Omid Honari and to the Parte Guelfa for acknowledging the movement’s mission.

May the occasion in Florence strengthen the commitment it celebrates: to bring people together without erasing their differences, to sustain dialogue where trust is fragile, and to pursue a future in which shared humanity matters more than inherited division.

Sources & Links

• Abrahamic Movement — Tom Wegner
• Parte Guelfa — About
• Parte Guelfa — History
• Parte Guelfa — Continuity between the 13th and 21st centuries
• Parte Guelfa — Statutes
• Feel Florence — Palagio di Parte Guelfa
• Feel Florence — Dante’s Florence