Marina Cantacuzino MBE Inspires Students with Talk on Forgiveness

On 26 February, we were delighted to welcome Marina Cantacuzino MBE, journalist and Founder of The Forgiveness Project, to speak with our GCSE Theology & Philosophy students and budding journalists.

From reporting on the Iraq war to launching a global project exploring forgiveness, Marina shared how, in 2003, she began collecting the stories of people who had experienced trauma and injustice yet chose forgiveness over revenge. Two decades on, that work continues to challenge and inspire audiences worldwide.

Quoting Mark Twain – ‘Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that crushed it’ – and reflecting on Desmond Tutu’s belief that ‘You can forgive without reconciling’, Marina encouraged students to consider both the power and the complexity of forgiveness. She also drew on contemporary voices such as Ta-Nehisi Coates to deepen the discussion.

Students described the talk as ‘powerful’, ‘eye-opening’ and ‘insightful’, praising the way it didn’t shy away from the difficult questions.

A thought-provoking afternoon – and a real privilege to welcome Marina back to Christ’s Hospital.