Nine questions to Maria Voce

From an interview with Focolare President Maria Voce, originally published in the January issue of Neue Stadt magazine

1. What makes you laugh?
Bloopers. For example I’m walking, I don’t see a step and find myself on the ground. I laugh so hard inside it’s difficult to get up!

2. What gets you mad?
I don’t feel anger grow inside me. At the most I feel sorry – for something that’s happened, that’s been said to me or annoyed me.

3. What’s been the most important experience of your life?
When I met a group of young people whose unity and witness fascinated me. They were consistent with the Christianity they lived, loving and being at the service of everyone, without ever judging anyone. This led to me getting to know the Focolare. My life changed the moment I truly listened to someone, thinking that he was my brother, that Jesus was within him.

4. What are your weaknesses?
Curiosity. When I hear two people talking outside my door I can’t help but bend an ear. Each time I have to take a step and set that aside.

5. And your strengths?
Optimism and trust. I trust in God and in others, even if I don’t know them, even if I realize that my trust is misplaced. This makes it easy to relate to others.

6. Where is your favorite place?
I like the whole world. But in terms of a favorite place, I think of a comfortable house, where there are people with whom I can have true, deep communion. If possible, it would be a warm place with sun – on the shore! In my mind this house would be in a city, since I am a pretty social person.

7. What helps you rebuild your strength?
A good sleep after having lived the present moment well and entrusted my worries to the Eternal Father.

8. What worries you?
Everything that has to do with conflict and hostility: wars, family quarrels, unresolved problems. Many times there is nothing I can do about it, but if I can, I try to find a solution or help others find one.

9. What do you have at heart as you guide the Focolare Movement?
For the movement to be an authentic witness of the charism of unity. There are groups all over the world who are living it this very moment. This gives me peace, it gives me confidence. This is where new ideas are born – new ways of incarnating. May they bring the charism of unity forward so that it achieves the goal Jesus prayed for: “That they may all be one.”