Through live linkups with Jerusalem, Budapest, Mumbai and Loppiano, Youth for a United World around the globe conclude the Genfest year by focusing on the 2013 World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro.
An event in Geneva sponsored by the Ecumenical Council of Churches and by the Focolare highlights the fruits that have emerged from Chiara Lubich’s charism of unity both in interpersonal relations and in political and social action.
The Congress of the South American Republic confers an honour upon the Focolare Movement on the 25th April; the message sent by Maria Voce.
Sophia University Institute. Dialogue between students and Maria Voce during her visit to the town of Loppiano: “The effort should not frighten you.”
Miguel & Raya Novak transferred from Argentina to Colorado, USA. Here they recount their experience as a contribution to the new evangelisation. It’s one of the testimonies that will be shared in Chicago during Expo 2013.
One hundred and thirty Focolare young people from25 countries meet Mayor Vera Baboun in Bethlehem, along with some of their Palestinian age-mates. Mayor Baboun remarked: “In a country wounded by the absence of brotherhood the rule that says ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you’ is the real change.”
Chiara Lubich spoke to a crowd of 15,000 gathered at Paleur Stadium in Rome, in March 1983, for a meeting of the New Humanity Movement. Thirty years on, in the light of those guidelines, an Expo in Chicago presents social efforts and changes well underway in North America.
The Archbishop of the Syrian Orthodox Church in Aleppo, Mor Gregorious Yohanna Ibrahim, and Bishop Paul Yazigi from the Greek Orthodox Church in Aleppo and Iskanderun were kidnapped on 22 April in the outskirts of Aleppo. Their release is uncertain.
