His Holiness the Dalai Lama to pray at earthquake hit Mirandola on 24 June 2012, before visiting in Basilicata and Milan, Italy

  Mirandola is one of the epicentres of the recent earthquakes that struck Emilia Romagna in Italy. The powerful earthquake killed at least 17 people, left 200 injured and about 14,000 people homeless. 

When the first earthquake struck Emilia Romagna on 20 May, His Holiness the Dalai Lama wrote to Prime Minister Mr. Mario Monti to express his sadness at the loss of lives and damages to properties as well as thousands of people directly affected. His Holiness donated US$ 50,000 to the Italian Red Cross for the Earthquake Emilia Romagna relief work. 

His Holiness will stopover for few hours in Emilia Romagna en-route to Matera, Basilicata Region in southern Italy, where he will visit the City of Peace for Children on 25 June founded by the Nobel Peace Laureate Betty Williams and located in Scanzano Jonico and Sant'Arcangelo.   

Basilicata Region’s President Vito De Filippo, Province President Franco Stella and Matera Mayor Salvatore Adduce will welcome His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 24 June evening on arrival in Matera. 

On 26 June morning, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will arrive in Milan. The Mayor of Milan Mr. Giuliano Pisapia will receive His Holiness at the City Hall. After their meeting, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be welcomed by Chairman of the Milan City Council Mr Basilio Rizzo. His Holiness will address the City Council. 

At the invitation of Ghe Pel Ling - Institute for Buddhist Tibetan Studies in Milan, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will give two days teachings on The Three Principal Aspects of the Path by Tsongkhapa and a public talk: Happiness Beyond Religion in Milan. Tickets (10,000) have been sold out for the public talk and about 8,000 tickets for the teachings. For further details visit www.dalailama-milano2012.org <http://www.dalailama-milano2012.org>  

Ghe Pel Ling is head by Thamthog Rinpoche, the present Abbot of Namgyal Monastery in Dharamsala, India His Holiness the Dalai Lama will return to India on 28 June night. 

Media contact:Mr. Tseten Samdup Chhoekyapa +39 32 80 385 325 – Italian mobile number +41 79 533 9310 – Swiss mobile number 24 to 28 May 20120 6:00 to 08:00 hrs – Central European Time18:00 to 20:00 hrs – Central European Time