In 2000 Chiara Lubich wrote: ‘One day I was with my companions and, opening a small copy of the Gospels, we read: ‘that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.’ (Jn 17:21) It was Jesus’ prayer before dying. Because of his presence among us and because of a the gift of his Spirit, I seemed to understand those strong and difficult words, and there was born in my heart the certainty that we had been born for this page of the Gospel: for unity; that is, to contribute to the unity of all people with God and with each other. Sometime later, conscious of the divine boldness of such a programme, which only God could bring about, we knelt around an altar and asked Jesus to realise that dream of his using even us if he wished, it were in his plans.’ Unity is the characteristic of the Focolare.