 "I hope we can carry on the friendship that began today, and that you will come to Rome to visit our synagogue and our museum.” These were the final words of Riccardo Di Segni, as the chief Rabbi bade goodbye to Maria Voce and a group of twenty or so of her co-workers, who had welcomed him to their international centre at Rocca di Papa.
On his arrival he paused at the Olive Tree of Peace, offered by the Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael, which had been planted by Rabbi Piattelli in October 1995 in the presence of Chiara Lubich.
 After a brief private meeting with Maria Voce, the Rabbi expressed the wish to hear more about the Focolare. He said that the little he knew had only been learnt indirectly.
During the presentation given by the General Council, the main items were the movement’s involvement in the church, in ecumenism, interfaith and cultural dialogue, especially with families and young people. In the cordial and fraternal dialogue that followed, some characteristic features of Focolare emerged that, as Mr Di Segni noted, are hard to categorise.
The meeting, which ended with some personal reflections from Mr Di Segni, was a moment of great reciprocal enrichment.
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