Focolare Movement
Easter eyes

Easter eyes

I wish that we could all have Easter eyes
capable of looking
into death, until we see life,
into the hurts, until we see forgiveness,
into separation, until we see unity,
into the wounds, until we see glory,
into the human person, until we see God,
into God, until we see the human person,
into Myself until I see You.
And in addition to this, to see the power of Easter!

(Easter 1993)

Klaus Hemmerle
La luce dentro le cose, Cittร  Nuova, Rome 1998, p. 110.

Photo: ยฉ Aakash-Sunuwar by Pexels.com

The Cross, a Treasure Chest of Communion

The Cross, a Treasure Chest of Communion

Solitude, silence, do not frighten:โ€ฏthey are made to protect, not to cause fear. Nevertheless, one can take advantage of such a suffering. The greatness of Christ is the cross. He was never so close to the Father and so close to the brothers as when naked, wounded, he cried out from the gallows: โ€œMy God, my God, why have you forsaken me?โ€.โ€ฏWith that suffering he redeemed: in that fracture he reunited all men with God.

[โ€ฆ]โ€ฏListen to it. Contemplate it, within the silence wherein God speaks. This is, in the day of life, the hour of dusk of contemplation, when the creatures gather together to assess the work that has been done and to prepare the actions of tomorrow: a tomorrow immersed in eternity. [โ€ฆ]โ€ฏDetachment from the world, therefore, and attachment to God: thus not a separation from people, inasmuch as they are brothers, members of the same divine and human family.

(Igino Giordani, Excerpts taken from โ€œCittร  Nuovaโ€ XXIII/13 10 July, 1979, pp.32-33)

Foto: ยฉ Nikolett Emmert by pexels.com

Every day a Holy Thursday

Every day a Holy Thursday

This year, Holy Week found a special resonance in me.

Yesterday, Wednesday of Holy Week, I was especially touched by the reading of the Passion of Jesus. I became aware โ€“ and this is so important โ€“ of the very new value suffering has in our Christian life. I felt as if I was drawn to this most sublime calling amidst the many voices that fill every day and every moment of our life. Jesus, the โ€œman of sufferingโ€: this is the climax of his vocation.

โ€ฆ Today I feel enveloped by a wave of tenderness. It is the day of the New Commandment, of the Eucharist, of the priesthood, itโ€™s the day when we serve one another.

Jesus reserved so many infinite riches for the last day of His life on earth!

How I wish to make every day a Holy Thursday.

Jesus, you who have chosen us for this pathway, which is so close to your heart, help us to follow it well, every day, until the end.

(Translation of the Italian text found in: Chiara Lubich, Diario 1964-1980, a cura di Fabio Ciardi, 2023, Cittร  Nuova, Roma, p. 324)

Photo ยฉ Vesal by Pixabay

Shining light in the darkness: we are not alone

Shining light in the darkness: we are not alone

The night is a symbol of darkness and of the unknown. It means the absence of that light which cannot be found without a lamp and a companion who travels beside us on our journey through life.
The night envelops our wounded and violated planet that is marked by massacre and by war motivated by the lust for power and money.
Night is what millions of people experience, people who no longer have a voice to cry out against injustice and oppression.
What about us? How can we continue to believe in a renewed and better world which we do not see developing as we had expected? How can we recognise the signs of all that is good in our everyday relationships? These are questions to which we do not always know how to respond. Nonetheless, although it is difficult to discern the answers, they urge us to look for a companion who โ€œwalksโ€ alongside us and to recognise the universal need for a spirituality that is inherent in human nature and that we experience if we live out mutual love with those around us.
Sometimes there are brief flashes of light that shine out in the most unexpected ways โ€“ even through social media โ€“ and they light up the night. One example is the story of Chiara Badano and Sara Cornelio, two friends whose relationship spansacross time.
Sara, born in 1998, โ€˜metโ€™ Chiara, so to speak, who had died eight years before aged 19, when she was little more than a child. She heard about Chiara during one of the many meetings during which people spoke of her extraordinary life. Sara began to regard her as a friend, a companion in her dreams, a confidante and a strong presence. Sara had a captivating personality: she sang, danced, studied and had many friends. At the same time, however, she lived with the daily reality of a congenital condition that โ€“ literally and not just figuratively โ€“ โ€˜took her breath awayโ€™. Nevertheless, she was certain that โ€œlove conquers allโ€ and this was the subject of an essay she wrote in the sixth form. She was fortunate to receive a lung transplant, and over time, became a gift for other people by bearing witness to this certainty through books, school visits, songs, short films, a blog and a theatrical performance.
Her wonderful family lived an experience of falling in love and of love itself. Her death in 2022, when she was not even 24 years of age, left all those who loved her โ€“ even those who had simply come across her on Facebook โ€“ feeling devastated and alone.
During her time on this earth, Sara regarded Chiara as a friend who was always close, accompanying, encouraging and supporting her and who โ€˜revealedโ€™ herself in the most unexpected moments and circumstances. She was a friend who knew how to โ€˜be thereโ€™ in moments of pure joy as well as in the pain and loneliness of a hospital or an intensive care unit.
In those final moments of solitude and weakness, Chiaraโ€™s presence became mysteriously silent, almost elusive, yet perhaps all the more authentic for it, and destined to become a friendship โ€˜foreverโ€™.
Chiara and Sara: unique, just as every story is unique.

Photo : ยฉ Kanenori – Pixabay

Stay with us, for it is nearly evening (Lk 24:29).

Stay with us, for it is nearly evening (Lk 24:29).

The road that leads to the village of Emmaus reminds us of a journey made by two of Jesusโ€™ disciples. They were feeling very disappointed as they walked along because their dreams and plans and the powerful experiences they had lived with the Master had come to nothing. They were returning home to resume the life they had left behind, the one they had lived before meeting the Lord. Only three days had passed since his crucifixion, but disappointment, fear and doubt reigned among his followers.

They were leaving Jerusalem, turning their backs on their unfulfilled dreams and distancing themselves from Christ and his message. They were sad because somehow, they had already made the decision to abandon the project for which they had originally followed him.

This is a story to which we can easily relate. Sometimes we too meet with complex situations and feel completely lost. There may be many possible options but often we believe that turning back is the only solution. Giving up and giving in can seem the only way to lessen our unease and distress.

โ€˜Who among us is not familiar with the visit to Emmaus? Who has not walked this road on an evening when all seemed lost? Christ had died in us… There was no longer any Jesus on earth”[1].

Stay with us, for it is nearly evening.

As the disciples walk along, a stranger joins them, seemingly unaware of the events that have just taken place. He begins to ask precise questions which bring out all the disciplesโ€™ bitterness and discouragement. At first, he listens to them but then begins to explain the Scriptures. It is all a dialogue, an encounter that leaves its mark, so much so that, even though they have not yet recognised
Jesus, the disciples beg him to stay with them because it is getting dark. ii Perhaps this is one of the most beautiful prayers we find in the Gospels.[2]

It is the first prayer of request that the disciples make to the Risen One, and it is moving to acknowledge that today we can invite him to do the same, to remain with us and among us.

The eyes of the two disciples will be opened when the โ€œstrangerโ€ breaks the bread and the joy of finally recognising him will prompt them to return to Jerusalem to announce his resurrection to their friends.

Stay with us, for it is nearly evening.

Chiara Lubich wrote โ€œPerhaps nothing better than these words can explain the experience that we within the Focolare have had of living with Jesus in our midst from the beginning.

Jesus is always Jesus, and even if he is only spiritually present, he explains the Scriptures and his charity burns in our hearts: this is life. Once we have had this experience and have known him, with infinite yearning we continue to say: โ€˜Stay with us, Lord, for it is getting lateโ€™: without you the night is darkโ€™ [3].

The night is a symbol of darkness, of the unknown and of the lack of the light that we cannot find when we do not believe in his presence โ€“ a presence that accompanies us always.

The night envelops our wounded and violated planet that is marked by massacre and by war motivated by the lust for power and money.

Night is what millions of people experience, people who no longer have a voice to cry out against injustice and oppression.

How can we be aware of the presence of Jesus who does not always reveal himself according to our expectations? How can we understand that he walks with us and tries to make us recognise the signs of his presence? Above all, how can we create the conditions for him to be present and remain with us?

These are questions to which we may not always know the answer, but which urge us not to give up the search for Jesus, to focus our gaze on a travelling companion whom we often do not see, to recognise the One who can make himself present, if we live mutual love among ourselves.

The road to Emmaus is a symbol of all our roads; it is the road of encounter with the Lord; it is the road that restores joy to our hearts and brings us back to the community to bear witness together that Christ is risen.

Edited by Patricia Mazzola & the Word of Life Team

Photo: ยฉPexels-Tom Fisk


[1] Franรงois Mauriac, Vita di Gesรน, Mondadori, Milano, 1950, p. 156.

[2] Cfr. Lc 24, 17-29.

[3] Chiara Lubich, Scritti Spirituali/3, Cittร  Nuova, Roma 1979, p. 67.

The Road of Hope

The Road of Hope

25th March 2026 โ€“ The event was held in the Sala della Conciliazione of the Lateran Palace where, after decades of conflict, the Catholic Church and the Italian State signed the Lateran Treaties in 1929. In this same historic place, in 2013, the diocesan phase of the Cause of Beatification of one of the most important spiritual figures of our time concluded: the Vietnamese Card.Franรงois-Xavier Nguyแป…n Vรขn Thuรขn.

220 people were present, Cardinals, Bishops, family members, priests, nuns and lay people from Vietnam and other countries. Thousands more were connected via streaming in seven languages on Vatican Media’s YouTube channels. The reason for this gathering was the occurrence of 50th anniversary since Nguyแป…n Vรขn Thuรขn, then a young Bishop, in the first months of his imprisonment that began on 15th August, 1975, managed to send his faithful 1,001 short meditations written on scraps of old calendars. The event was organized by the Cause of Beatification of the Vietnamese Cardinal, together with the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development which is responsible for the Cause, in collaboration with the Dicastery for the Clergy, the Diocese of Rome and Cittร  Nuova Publishing House.

Pope Leo marked the occasion with a Message signed by Card. Parolin, Secretary of State, expressing the hope that “this significant event will foster a renewed appreciation of the fervent witness of such ac courageous disciple of the Gospel and generous Shepherd”. His example โ€“ he continued โ€“ “is profoundly relevant today because it reminds us that Christian hope is born from an encounter with Christ and takes shape in a life given to God and neighbour”.

Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the Popeโ€™s Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome, welcomed the participants. He recalled the relevance of Nguyแป…n Vรขn Thuรขnโ€™s life in the aftermath of the Jubilee of Hope, at a time when the Gospel is transmitted above all through witness.

But who was this Vietnamese Cardinal?
A brief biographical sketch was offered by Dr. Waldery Hilgeman, Postulator for the Cause of Beatification. A descendant of a family that in the nineteenth century included martyrs among its ancestors, from a young age Franรงois-Xavier was attracted by the example of the saints and later to contemporary spiritual movements, including the Cursillos and the Focolare. He entered the seminary, became a priest and obtained a doctorate in canon law. In 1967 he was consecrated Bishop of Nha Trang. When Paul VI appointed him Coadjutor Archbishop of Saigon in 1975, a long trial began: he was arrested and spent thirteen years in prison, of which nine in solitary confinement. He later recounted that there he learned “to choose God and not the works of God”. He understood that God wanted him to be with the other prisoners, almost all non-Catholic, as a presence of God and of His love, “in hunger, in cold, in hard labour, in humiliation and injustice”. He was released in 1988. He lived in Rome from 1991, where John Paul II appointed him first Vice President and then President of the then Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and in 2001 made him a cardinal.

Elisabeth Nguyแป…n, the Cardinal’s sister, recounted the remarkable story of the 1001 thoughts. Smuggled out from house arrest, “they began a journey of evangelization from one family to another, from one prison cell to another, before crossing the oceans with the boat people“. Years later, they became the book The Road of Hope.

Powerful and moving experiences, augmented, halfway through the meeting, by a piano piece performed masterfully by Don Carlo Seno: “La Campanella” by Franz Liszt.

Over the course of just an hour and a half, guided by the journalist Alessandro De Carolis of Vatican Media, additional aspects of Nguyแป…n Vรขn Thuรขnโ€™s life emerged. Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy, spoke of him as an “evangelizer in every circumstance”, recounting the testimony of a Buddhist monk: “It was winter, it was two degrees below zero and we did not have enough blankets in the re-education camp. The Bishop would go out several times every day to collect branches and pieces of wood to heat the camp at night… He was what we Buddhists call a “Bo tac”: a very holy man. ”

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, recalled how in 1995 a personal friendship was born with Nguyแป…n Vฤƒn Thuแบญn: “I was struck by the fact that, while he recounted painful and even humiliating experiences, his voice remained calm and his face serene. There was no hint of bitterness or hatred in him. I couldn’t take my eyes off his radiant and smiling face. ”

Along with his spiritual stature, his deep concern for global issues of justice and peace emerged. Cardinal Michael Czerny SJ, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development spoke of this. For the occasion, he had published the Italian translation of a new biography of Nguyแป…n Vฤƒn Thuแบญn, written by his sister Elisabeth together with the Belgian priest Stefaan Lecleir.

Card. Czerny explained, “His main contribution at a global level was his role in the development of the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church (2004)”. He then referred to a striking question posed by the Vietnamese Archbishop: “Faced with the current political and economic situation, some wonder: will we be able to cross the threshold of the new millennium with hope?” In response, he cited a well-known journalist who predicted “three catastrophic phases” for impoverished societies: exploitation โ€“ exclusion โ€“ elimination. “When I think of all this,” commented Nguyแป…n Vฤƒn Thuแบญn, “my heart is torn and I would like to shout: ‘impossible’.”

At the end of the event, the actor and journalist Rosario Tronnolone read some passages from The Road of Hope that resound like the golden seal: “You want to carry out a revolution: to renew the world. You will be able to accomplish this precious mission that God has entrusted to you, only through “the power of the Holy Spirit”. Every day, where you live, prepare a new Pentecost. Commit yourself to a campaign that aims to make everyone happy. Sacrifice yourself continually, with Jesus, to bring peace to souls, development and prosperity to peoples. Let this be your spirituality, discreet and concrete at the same time. “

Hubertus Blaumeiser
Photo: ยฉ CM – CSC Audiovisivi

Full broadcast on the Vatican Media YouTube channel

An invitation to a real turning point

An invitation to a real turning point

A true source of pastoral encouragement, the fruit of a profound understanding of the times we are living in: this is how we perceived the words spoken by Pope Leo XIV at our meeting with him on the 21st of March. It was a moment of special grace and deep joy that left an indelible mark on the hearts of the 300 participants at the audience in the Vatican. We had just concluded the General Assembly, which is convened every five years to elect the President, Co-President and governing body of the Work of Mary โ€“ Focolare Movement, and we have taken the Popeโ€™s words to heart as a source of wisdom for the future and for the service we are called to offer today to the Church and to the world.

The Pope began by acknowledging the gift that the charism of Chiara Lubich represents for the Church: a gift that has shaped the lives of so many people, families, consecrated persons and priests, and which continues to bear fruits of communion, of dialogue and of peace in the most diverse contexts. At the same time, he has located this gift within the living dynamics of history, reminding us that every charism is entrusted to the responsibility of those who receive it and are called to live it out in ever-new ways.

Pope Leo XIV has reaffirmed for us the essence of our charism: unity. A unity that does not stem from organisation or strategic planning, but which is โ€œthe fruit and reflection of Christโ€™s unity with the Fatherโ€. For this reason โ€” he reminded us โ€” it must not be confused with uniformity of thought, of sensitivity or of lifestyle. On the contrary, authentic Gospel-based unity values differences, respects the freedom and conscience of each person, and is built on mutual listening and the shared search for the will of God.

In this time, marked by deep polarisation, social tensions and armed conflicts, the Pope has pointed to unity as a true prophetic strength. A simple yet powerful seed, capable of combating โ€œthe poison of divisionโ€ that pollutes hearts and relationships, through the Gospel-based witness of dialogue, forgiveness and peace. This is a call that we deeply feel as our own and which challenges every member of our Movement to be a force for reconciliation in everyday life.

With particular clarity, the Pope then outlined a specific responsibility for this post-foundational phase, that is, the period following the death of our foundress, Chiara Lubich. This is not a season that has now come to an end, but a time that is continuing and which calls for constant, mature and, above all, shared discernment. He urged us to distinguish what is essential to our charism from what, even if it was part of our history, is no longer necessary, or has shown over time its limits, ambiguities and shortcomings. This discernment โ€” he emphasised โ€” cannot be entrusted to a few people but involves the entire body of the Movement. The charism, in fact, is a gift of the Holy Spirit, and everyone has the right and the duty to feel jointly responsible for the Movement to which they have committed themselves with dedication.

I would also like to quote the words spoken by the new co-president, Fr Roberto Almada, as he commented on this part of the Pope’s address, recognising its great significance: he noted how the Pope had spoken to us โ€œlike a fatherโ€. He then added that the Pope has encouraged us on the path we have in fact been following for some years now โ€“ listening to those who have suffered and reviewing our procedures โ€“ but at the same time he has called us to a deeper conversion.

The conversion to which the Pope calls us begins with a personal change of mindset; it is therefore not merely a matter of reforming structures or institutions. At the heart of it all lies the way we live out our relationships, respect for the dignity of the person, and the correct exercise of roles of responsibility, lived as a service. In this sense, the Pope has reminded us that only a Gospel-based approach can allow the โ€œbeautyโ€ of the Gospel to shine out in our relationships and structures.

I was particularly struck by Pope Leo XIVโ€™s emphasis on charity as the essential nourishment of unity. Referring to the First Letter to the Corinthians, he recalled that charity is patient, generous and respectful, and that without it, unity risks becoming meaningless. In these words, I recognised the heart of the intuition of Chiara Lubich, who saw in unity not merely a spiritual ideal, but the โ€œrockโ€ upon which the whole life of the Movement is based.

A new mandate is now beginning for the Focolare Movement; five years in which we feel that looking to the future means to embrace and to bring about a real turning point. A turning point that calls for personal and communitarian conversion, a renewed awareness of the cry of humanity today, and a commitment to bear witness to unity not so much through words as through our lives. Our General Assembly, which was made up of people representing all vocations, a variety of cultures, languages and nations, allowed us to experience the richness of a widespread shared responsibility and a new enthusiasm: signs that the Spirit is continuing to accompany us even during this delicate transition.

With deep gratitude, we therefore take to heart the Pope’s encouragement and his invitation to continue on this journey. We do so with humility and trust, confident that, if we live unity as a free gift and as a daily task, it will be able to contribute to the Church’s mission and increasingly become a force for peace for the world.

Margaret Karram
President of the Focolare Movement

Published in the Italian version of Lโ€™Osservatore romano on the 26th of March 2026

Photo: ยฉ Vatican Media

The seal of unity

The seal of unity

โ€ฆ Which word is it that the Holy Spirit imprinted like a seal on this house, on our Movement, when God first thought of it and started forming it here on earth?

We know what it is. The word is โ€œunity.โ€ Unity is the word that sums up our entire spirituality. Unity with God, unity with our neighbours. Or rather, unity with our neighbours in order to reach unity with God.

The Holy Spirit, in fact, revealed to us a way that is distinctly ours, a fully Gospel-based way to unite us with God,

to find God. โ€ฆ We seek God and find him by passing through our neighbour, by loving our neighbour. We find God when we strive to bring about unity with our neighbour, with every neighbour, if we establish the presence of Jesus among us. Only in this way are we guaranteed unity with God and we can find him alive and beating in our hearts. It is this unity with God which then, in turn, urges us to go out to our neighbours, and helps us to ensure that our love for them is not pretence, nor insufficient, or superficial, but rather is radical, full and complete, given substance through sacrifice, always ready to give our life, and capable of bringing about unity.

Our Statutes place unity at the basis of everything, as the norm of every norm, as the rule to be

observed before every other rule. Unity is the word for us; it is the rock.

We have no meaning in life except in this word, where everything acquires meaning – our every action, every prayer, every breath. And if we concentrate on living this word, if we live it as well as we possibly can, everything will certainly be safe, we will be safe and also that part of the Movement entrusted to us will be safe.

Perhaps, in the future, the Work of Mary, both as a whole or in some of the zones,

will go through quite different times from what we are experiencing now, when we have so many consolations, fruits, light, fire.

Moments of darkness or despair may well arise, there might be persecutions

or temptations. โ€ฆ There might be misfortunes or disastersโ€ฆ But if we stand firm on the rock

of unity, nothing can touch us, everything will go ahead as before.

Chiara Lubich
in โ€œConference Calls โ€“ Conversations via Telephone and Satellite Connectionsโ€, 2022 New City, pages 342-344

Co-citizens of Loppiano: Together to Build the Future

Co-citizens of Loppiano: Together to Build the Future

At the launch of the website of the โ€œCo-citizens of Loppianoโ€, Roberto Brundisini told us that returning to Loppiano after many years reawakened feelings and dreams and inspired the idea of starting new projects.

โ€œOne day I went back to visit Loppiano, where I had previously lived for some time. I realized that I felt at home there. I was surprised that I had stayed away for so long and I thought of many others who, like me, had lost touch with this reality. I expressed my thoughts, that this is the home not only of those who live there but also of those who love it. And I know there are many.

Foto: Horacio Conde

The word spread, dormant circuits were reactivated and, as if from a long hibernation, old and new faces were awakened. Loppiano exists, it’s there, it’s still there! The dreams that had fallen asleep come alive again, with a humble determination. Because the dreams that remain in the drawer grow mould.

So, what should we do? Where can we start first?

Then it hits us, maybe we can establish an energy community. “Yes,” someone replied. Maybe we could set up an alternative agriculture. Fantastic! Contribute to the urban and environmental reorganization of the Little Town according to the criteria of Laudato Sรฌ.

What a dream! Why don’t we organize a welcome centre where people can spend a few days relaxing and re-educating themselves regarding nature and human relationships? Fantastic – someone else continued – I would love there to be a hub, a meeting space for cultural exchanges between young people and perhaps also between artists. Sounds exciting! What if we set up a Web-radio with a universal outlook, given the variety of skills, experiences and knowledge that many of us, scattered across the globe, have acquired over the years? Another dream (โ€ฆ)โ€

During a recent visit to the International Centre of the Movement, we interviewed the President of the Association, Alessandro Agostini and one of the councillors, Nicola di Settimo.

Turn on subtitles and choose your desired language

Interview Anna Lisa Innocenti e Carlos Mana
Editing: Joaquรญn Masera.

Sito web: https://www.cocittadinidiloppiano.org

Conference dedicated to Cardinal Vฤƒn Thuแบญn

Conference dedicated to Cardinal Vฤƒn Thuแบญn

โ€œIn order to hold on firmly to your faith, you must choose the Road of Hope followed by the disciples of Christโ€. This is one of the 1001 thoughts addressed by the then Archbishop Franรงois Xavier Nguyแป…n Vฤƒn Thuแบญn to his faithful during his long years of imprisonment for his faith: a collection of reflections, warnings, and encouragements, later collected in the book โ€œThe Road of Hopeโ€, considered the โ€œspiritual testamentโ€ of the Vietnamese Cardinal, declared Venerable by Pope Francis.

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the book’s publication, the Cause for Beatification of Cardinal Vฤƒn Thuแบญn and the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, which is acting as the promoter of the cause, together with the Dicastery for the Clergy, the Cittร  Nuova Publishing House, and the Diocese of Rome, wish to honor the memory of the Vietnamese Cardinal by celebrating a conference entitled โ€œFranรงois Xavier Nguyแป…n Vฤƒn Thuแบญn. Witness of Hope โ€.

The event will be held on March 25 in Rome, at the Sala dei Trattati Lateranensi, in the Palazzo Apostolico Lateranense, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Ms. ร‰lisabeth Nguyแป…n Thแป‹ Thu Hแป“ng, sister of Cardinal Vฤƒn Thuแบญn, will be present.

Through the testimony of those who knew him, and with excerpts and music from his writings, the conference aims to highlight the relevance of Cardinal Vฤƒn Thuแบญn today: a faithful pastor who was able to transform his experience of imprisonment into a space of prayer, forgiveness, and sacrifice, showing how the light of the Gospel can overcome all darkness. His words convey a message of hope, a universal spiritual heritage.

His Eminence Cardinal Baldassare Reina, Vicar General of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome, will open the proceedings. Speakers will include His Eminence Cardinal Michael Czerny, S.J., Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development; Dr. Waldery Hilgeman, Postulator of the Cause for Beatification of Cardinal Vฤƒn Thuแบญn; His Eminence Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy; His Eminence Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization.

Don Carlo Seno, priest of the Diocese of Milan and director of the โ€œVinea meaโ€ Spirituality Center, will perform on the piano.

The meeting will be moderated by journalist Alessandro De Carolis of Vatican Radio – Vatican News.

During the conference, the Italian edition of the new biography of Cardinal Vฤƒn Thuแบญn, written by his sister ร‰lisabeth and published by Cittร  Nuova Editrice, will be presented, with a preface by Cardinal Michael Czerny.

The event is open to the press, upon request for accreditation at the Holy See Press Office, and will be available via streaming in Italian, with simultaneous translation into English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, and Vietnamese.

By the Cause for the Beatification of Cardinal Vฤƒn Thuแบญn

Below are the links in different languages:

IT: https://www.youtube.com/live/WQk9grOvTL0

EN: https://www.youtube.com/live/qr-lYRm1IGY

ES: https://www.youtube.com/live/7mQNE_tFE_4

FR: https://www.youtube.com/live/8xnl5NQ4jx8

DE: https://www.youtube.com/live/ULjKpE22E6s

PT: https://www.youtube.com/live/JSPZWH-Zwu0

VT: https://www.youtube.com/live/8Mx3gnY3wuE

The life, works, and spirituality of Cardinal Vฤƒn Thuแบญn are also illustrated on the website dedicated to him, in several languages, at https://www.cardinalvanthuan.va/it.html


Towards a more mature unity: Pope Leo XIVโ€™s message to the Focolare Movement

Towards a more mature unity: Pope Leo XIVโ€™s message to the Focolare Movement

The arrival of Pope Leo XIV was greeted by a warm applause from the 320 participants at the General Assembly of the Focolare Movement, who had been received in audience at the Vatican. โ€œWith that applause,โ€ said the newly elected Co-President, Roberto Almada, โ€œwe wanted to express our joy. I was struck by his appreciative and encouraging gaze towards all those who are part of the Movement: priests, families, young people and focolarini.

Right from the outset, Pope Leo XIV drew attention to the root of the charism: โ€œEach of you has been drawn to the charism of the Servant of God Chiara Lubichโ€. He emphasised that unity remains at the heart of the gift that the Holy Spirit offers to the Church and to the world today.

The topic of peace featured prominently in the Pope’s message. He acknowledged that โ€œalso through you, God has, over the past decades, prepared a great people of peaceโ€, who are called today โ€œto act as a counterbalance and a shield against the many people who are sowing hatred, who are dragging humanity back into forms of barbarism and violenceโ€. These words confirmed the work of the Assembly, which reflected on how to contribute more effectively to mending social bonds, overcoming polarisation, and promoting dialogue and fraternity in the areas where the Movement is present.

Margaret Karram, re-elected as President of the Movement, commented: โ€œThe Pope has once again emphasised how, today more than ever, there is a need for unity in a divided and war-torn world. He has placed even greater emphasis on the need to live out our vocation to fraternity more fully and more effectively. I was also struck by the Popeโ€™s appreciation for the Movementโ€™s work in the ecumenical and interfaith contexts, as well as in other areas.โ€

A particularly significant point concerned the historic moment the Movement is currently going through. Pope Leo XIV recalled that: โ€œYou have been entrusted with the responsibility of keeping the charism of your Movement alive in the post-foundational phaseโ€, a phase that does not end with the generation immediately following the foundress, but which โ€œextends even furtherโ€. He urged the Movement to distinguish, with clarity and honesty, between what belongs to the essential core of the charism and what may change over time. He clearly stated that it is necessary to discern โ€œwhich aspects of your community life and your apostolate are essential, and therefore must be maintainedโ€ and โ€œwhich instruments and practices, although they have been in use for some time, are not essential to the charismโ€ฆ or have presented problematic aspects and therefore should be given upโ€.

The Pope’s words on transparency โ€“ a โ€œprerequisite for credibilityโ€ and a right for all because the charism is a shared gift โ€“ have confirmed and reinforced a direction that had already developed in the Assembly. A Movement that adopts greater shared responsibility is the necessary step towards living out unity today.

The reflection on the challenges and critical issues raised by the General Assembly has highlighted that at the root of many of the movementโ€™s current problems lies an immature understanding of unity, the founding core of Chiara Lubichโ€™s charism; for this reason, a process of re-evaluation and deeper reflection has been initiated at all levels.

In this context, the aim is: to work towards overcoming divisions and polarisation through the efforts of communities of the Focolare Movement living in local areas and on the โ€œperipheriesโ€ of the world, in partnership with those who share the Gospel-based principle of unity through dialogue and collaboration; to support networks committed to promoting peace and education to non-violence; developing a integral vision of care for the planet and for people; strengthening families and communities as places of closeness and mutual support. Alongside this, it is essential to promote the ethical and responsible use of technology and artificial intelligence, involving people of all generations, and to value the contribution of young people and the richness that stems from the coming together of different experiences and sensitivities.

With an approach based on the quality of relationships, on transparency, on participation and on shared responsibility, the Movement renews its commitment to work so as to ensure that every place becomes a space for encounter and collaboration, at the service of the common good and of peace.

Stefania Tanesini

READ THE FULL TEXT OF POPE LEO XIVโ€™S SPEECH HERE

Photo: ยฉ Vatican Media

The General Councillors have been elected

The General Councillors have been elected

Today, the 20 general councillors of the Focolare Movement were elected; during the new term of office, they will support the President of the Focolare Movement in her role.

In accordance with the General Statutes, they, together with the President and the Co-President, are responsible for representing the entire Movement and expressing its unity.

They will be called upon to carry out the tasks entrusted to them by the President, in particular overseeing the practical aspects of the life of the Movement (summarised in the โ€œseven coloursโ€) and the support of the geographical subdivisions (the โ€œzonesโ€). Each one, in their own role, will have at heart the unity of the entire family of the Focolare Movement, safeguarding and promoting it at every step.

They will be called upon to carry out the tasks entrusted to them by the President, in particular overseeing the practical aspects of the life of the Movement (summarised in the โ€œseven coloursโ€) and the support of the geographical subdivisions (the โ€œzonesโ€). Each one, in their own role, will have at heart the unity of the entire family of the Focolare Movement, safeguarding and promoting it at every step.

Stefania Tanesini
with the Multimedia and Linguistic Services Communication Team

Photo: ยฉ CSC Audiovisivi

Middle East emergency: outcomes and stories of solidarity

Middle East emergency: outcomes and stories of solidarity

In recent years, the Middle East has gone through one of the most difficult periods in its recent history.Wars, political instability and economic emergencies have affected millions of people, forcing entire families to leave their homes and putting access to the most basic necessities at risk. In this context, the projects supported through the funds raised for the Focolare Movementโ€™s Middle East Emergency Appeal, implemented by AMU and AFN, sought to offer concrete responses to the most urgent needs, reaching a total of 3,337 people, thanks to the use of 362,754 euros allocated to humanitarian interventions.

October 7, 2023 marked the beginning of a new phase of the conflict in the Gaza Strip. According to the United Nations, about 90% of the population has been forced to leave their homes and almost the entire population is now facing extreme levels of food insecurity.

In collaboration with the local network, in particular with the Caritas organization in Jordan and the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, it was possible to support 1,750 displaced people. The interventions involved the purchase and distribution of basic necessities, food assistance and the welcoming of hundreds of people in two parishes. In addition to food and medicine, a safe place was provided where people could find shelter and care.

Photo 1: ยฉ Caritas Jordan – 2 3 ยฉ Patriarcato Latino di Gerusalemme

In 2024, the intensification of conflicts in southern Lebanon resulted in over one million displaced people. Many families had to leave everything and seek refuge elsewhere.

Thanks to the collaboration with the local Humanitรฉ Nouvelle association, 195 people were welcomed at the “La Sorgente” Mariapolis Centre and at the Institut de Rรฉducation Audio-Phonรฉtique (IRAP), in the province of Beirut. Here, displaced people received accommodation, food, medical assistance, clothing and hygiene supplies.

Particular attention was paid to children and young people: 7 classes were organized for 39 students up to the age of 15, allowing them to continue their education even during displacement. Recreational activities, moments of sharing and initiatives promoted by young volunteers helped to create spaces of hope in a situation marked by uncertainty.

Also in Lebanon, the SOSTENIAMOLibano (Letโ€™s Support Lebanon) project was continued. It was established to help people cover the cost of medical treatment in an increasingly fragile healthcare system. The project reached 112 beneficiaries, offering help for the purchase of medicines, psychological support and assistance for hospital treatment.

Another intervention supported small local agricultural producers. Through the “From All Lebanon to All Lebanon” initiative, agricultural and artisanal products were purchased from small producers and distributed to displaced families in the Beirut metropolitan area. This project involved 80 people, contributing both to food support and to the protection of local economic activities.

Photo: ยฉ Focolari Libano

After more than fourteen years of war, Syria continues to experience an extremely fragile situation. In 2024, during a phase of political transition, many families suddenly found themselves without access to money due to the temporary closure of banks.

Thanks to the local network of the Focolare Movement, it was possible to offer financial support to 305 families in Aleppo, Damascus, Homs and other cities, reaching around 1,200 people. The contribution enabled them to meet their most urgent daily expenses such as food, medicines and basic necessities.

Beyond the numbers, these projects above all tell stories of solidarity and collaboration between local and international realities. The goal was not only to respond to the immediate emergency, but also to strengthen community bonds and support the resilience of the people involved.

Prepared by Emergency Coordination Team of the Focolare Movement

To make a contribution to the Middle East Emergency click here

Header: ยฉ Patriarcato Latino di Gerusalemme

Chiara Lubich: I have found you

Chiara Lubich: I have found you

I have found you in so many places, Lord!

I have felt you beating in the perfect stillness of a little Alpine church, in the shadow of the tabernacle of an empty cathedral, in the breathing as one soul of a crowd who love you and who fill the arches of your church with songs and love.

I have found you in joy. I have spoken to you beyond the starry firmament, when in the evening, in silence, I was returning home from work.

I seek you and often I find you.

But where I always find you is in suffering.

A suffering, any sort of suffering, is like the sound of a bell that summons Godโ€™s bride to prayer. When the shadow of the cross appears the soul recollects itself in the tabernacle of its heart and forgetting the tinkling of the bell it โ€œseesโ€ you and speaks to you.

It is you who come to visit me. It is I who answer you: โ€œHere I am, Lord, I desire you, I have always desired you.โ€

And in this meeting my soul does not feel its suffering, but is as if inebriated with your love: filled with you, imbued with you: I in you and you in me, that we may be one.

And then I reopen my eyes to life, to the less real life, divinely trained to wage your war.

Chiara Lubich
in Meditations, New City, London 2005, pages 74-75

Photo: Bruno Kraler by Pexels

Margaret Karram re-elected as leader of the Focolare Movement and Roberto Almada, new Co-President

Margaret Karram re-elected as leader of the Focolare Movement and Roberto Almada, new Co-President

โ€œWith the grace of God and the help of all of you, I accept. I was deeply moved in today’s liturgy by Psalm 94: โ€œO that today you would listen to his voice! Harden not your heartsโ€. In response to this new call, I renew my โ€œyesโ€, my full commitment to God together with all of you, at the service of the Church, the Movement and humanity โ€.

These were Margaret Karram’s first words, just minutes after her election as President of the Focolare Movement on the 12th of March 2026, for a second five-year term.

She was re-elected by the 261 participants with the right to vote, representing the Focolare communities from all five continents, who are taking part in the General Assembly from the 1st to the 21st of March.

The new Co-President is Roberto Almada, an Argentine focolarino who is a priest, who was also elected by a two-thirds majority. He succeeds Jesรบs Morรกn, who has completed his second and final term (in accordance with the Decree of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life of the 11th of June 2021).

โ€œI accept this election with the grace of God and the protection of the Virgin Mary,โ€ said Almada, โ€œand I will give it my all, with my strength, my intelligence and my heart; you can count on me!โ€

The elections were confirmed by the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life, as the competent authority of the Holy See, in accordance with the General Statutes of the Focolare Movement (Work of Mary, Articles 79 and 88).

Margaret Karram is the third President of the Focolare Movement, after its foundress, Chiara Lubich. She succeeded Maria Voce in 2021. Maria Voce passed away on the 20th of June last year.

Margaret is a Christian Arab born in Haifa, Israel, she grew up in a multi-religious environment, developing from a young age a strong commitment to dialogue between different cultures and faiths. She graduated in Judaism from the American Jewish University in Los Angeles (USA), before taking on positions of responsibility in the Movement in the Holy Land, while also working for 14 years at the Italian Consulate General in Jerusalem.

Internationally recognised for her contribution to interreligious dialogue โ€“ Mount Zion Award (2013) and Saint Rita Award (2016) โ€“ she participated in the Invocation for Peace in the Vatican Gardens in 2014 with Pope Francis and the Israeli and Palestinian presidents. She was elected President of the Focolare Movement for a first term in 2021 and has strengthened the Movement’s action in ecumenical and interreligious dialogue. She met with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople and participated as a guest in the recent Synod of the Catholic Church.

In 2023, she was appointed Member of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life. She has travelled to Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific to meet with Focolare communities and organisations engaged in interreligious dialogue. Among her most recent visits were Genfest 2024 in Brazil, the peace forum in the United States in 2025 and the international conference for the tenth anniversary of Laudato si’. Co-author with Monica Mondo of the book Per non sfiorarci invano [So as not to pass each other by in vain] (2023, Ed. Francescane), in 2025 she published Prossimitร , via alla pace – Pagine di vita [Closeness, the path to peace – Pages of life] (Ed. Cittร  Nuova), dedicated to the culture of fraternity and dialogue.

Roberto Almada is an Argentine focolarino who is a priest, psychiatrist and psychotherapist. With a doctorate in philosophy, he was one of the promoters of the School of Logotherapy in Uruguay and Paraguay. He is part of the group that coordinates spiritual and psychological accompaniment programmes at the Sophia University Institute for Latin America and the Caribbean and at the Logos Institute in Caserta (Italy). His pastoral activity has focused on the family through the New Families Movement, where he follows projects accompanying couples.

Author of the book El cansancio de los buenos [The Weariness of the Good], which explores the dynamics of burnout and has been translated into several languages (in Italy: โ€œIl burnout del buon samaritanoโ€ [The Burnout of the Good Samaritan], published by Effatร ), and co-author of Desafรญo Parejas [The Challenge of Married Couples], both published by Ciudad Nueva. He served as a collaborator at the International Centre of the Focolare Movement in Rocca di Papa (Italy) from 1999 to 2009 and as a Councillor for the same Centre from 2014 to 2021. Until 2026, he lived in Buenos Aires, working for the Movement in the Southern Cone in the areas of evangelisation, supporting local communities where he facilitated processes of reorganisation, of cohesion and of study.

He has gained considerable experience in ecclesial and educational settings across various Latin American countries, including Colombia, El Salvador, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina; supporting priests, religious communities and Catholic teachers through courses and spiritual retreats, with a particular focus on offering support during times of pastoral burnout and helping them rediscover the meaning of their mission. He has also worked in youth ministry and in the social sector with migrants.

According to the General Statutes, the Presidency will always be entrusted to a woman focolarina who has taken perpetual vows: a choice that reflects the lay and female leadership envisaged by the foundress, Chiara Lubich, and confirmed by Saint John Paul II. The President is called to accompany, โ€œin a spirit of unityโ€, the Focolare communities present in 150 countries, which embrace the Gospel message of universal fraternity within a context of cultural, social and religious diversity. Her tasks include guiding and directing a movement that addresses the local and global challenges of our time and is called in particular to heal the personal and social divisions of humanity. The Statutes also outline the way in which the President is to exercise her responsibility: a leadership based on service and Gospel-based charity, in accordance with Jesusโ€™ invitation to be a servant to all (see Mark 10:44). She is called to be a bridge-builder, a promoter of unity and a witness to the central message of the spirituality of the Focolare Movement, acting as its spokesperson with coherence and dedication.

The Co-President โ€“ elected from among the focolarini who are priests in the Focolare Movement โ€“ is called first and foremost to work in close collaboration with the President, sharing decisions with her and helping to ensure the Movementโ€™s discernment and unity. Alongside this primary role, the Co-President collaborates in the general guidance of the Movement, offering his input on the most significant issues and ensuring that the life of the Movement is fully in line with the faith and doctrine of the Church.

Over the coming days, the Assembly shall also elect the Focolare Movementโ€™s new governing body โ€“ the general councillors, who will serve as the Presidentโ€™s closest collaborators โ€“ and shall discuss proposed amendments to the General Statutes.

On the 21st of March, the participants and observers of the Assembly will be received in a private audience by Pope Leo XIV.

Stefania Tanesini

News 4 โ€“ 2026 General Assembly

News 4 โ€“ 2026 General Assembly

The General Assembly has begun in earnest with intense dialogue and collaborative work. From the 6th to the 11th of March, everyone at the Assembly is exploring nine topics that emerged from proposals received from individuals and communities of the Movement around the world. La Asamblea General ha entrado en materia con un intenso trabajo de diรกlogo y co-elaboraciรณn. Del 6 al 11 de marzo, todos los de la Asamblea estรกn profundizando en nueve temรกticas emergentes de las propuestas recibidas de personas y comunidades del Movimiento en todo el mundo.

Government, participation and responsibility – There is a need for a wider, co-responsible and intergenerational participation, as well as a more synodal and transparent governance. Reflection is also given to the relationships between the International Centre, geographical areas and local communities, and to the meaning of leadership in the light of the Charism of unity.

Family – In a Movement made up of various vocations, ages and cultures, the family is a transversal topic. In some societies, its challenges are overlooked: the Assembly is discussing how to bring it back to the centre of our attention, recognising the richness and complexity of different cultural situations.

The Focolare Movement in the Catholic Church – The relationship with the Catholic Church is being deepened as an exchange of gifts: the Charism of unity grows within the universal and local Church. At the centre of the discussion is formation in dialogue and relationships with local Churches and other ecclesial movements.

Relationships between people of various Churches – Ecumenism is a crucial challenge for a Movement that brings together people from many Christian Churches. There is a need to foster a sense of โ€œweโ€, using language and gestures that promote mutual respect and understanding. The Assembly is asking itself what formative, cultural and practical choices can strengthen the ecumenical dimension in every area.

Peace and integral ecology – Caring for the earth and building inclusive communities are two inseparable aspects. We are working to better define the Movement’s commitment, translating values into local and global actions: ecological projects, formation courses in peace and reconciliation between communities and nations.

Transmission of the Charism – How can we speak about our Charism of unity today? To whom and using what kind of language? In a world that has changed greatly, there is a need for new narratives capable of reaching the generations of today and tomorrow.

Dialogue and polarisation – Dialogue is a fundamental choice in a context marked by cultural, political and religious divisions, even within the Movement. We are reflecting on how to promote appropriate formation programmes and a welcoming culture that can heal divisions.

Living unity today – Forming our conscience, respecting personal freedom and living in communion are deeply felt issues. Ways to improve attitudes, structures and language are being explored so that they truly support the dignity and vocational maturity of everyone.

Communication, media and artificial intelligence – New technologies open up opportunities but also raise questions. Topics being discussed include communication strategies, the informed use of the media, the involvement of young people and the ethical aspects of the development of artificial intelligence.

Closeness that unites

Each day begins with a meditation or reflection, led by people from various Christian Churches and followers of other religions. On the 9th of March, Rabbi David Goodman from Jerusalem and Muslim theologian Adnane Mokrani explored the theme of โ€˜Closeness in Jewish and Islamic traditionsโ€™: a valuable insight at a time when the Middle East and many countries are experiencing great suffering.

Physical closeness is not enough, said Rabbi Goodman. True closeness is born when we welcome the wounds of others and allow others to enter into ours. Online from Jerusalem, he gave a powerful message of hope and reconciliation: for the Assembly to be an experience of authentic closeness.

Adnane Mokrani emphasised that God is always close to us, even before we call upon him: he seeks us out and accompanies us even in danger. Closeness, he said, is what makes us fully human, because it opens us up to solidarity and allows us to share the pain of others. He left us with the image of a triangle โ€“ God, I and my neighbour โ€“ whose centre is love.

โ€œLet us pray that, in this time of darkness, God may reveal a new step for humanity as it journeys forward.โ€

The programme planned for the next few days

12 – 15 March โ€“ Elections of the President, the Co-President and the general councillors

16 – 20 March – Discussions and voting on the proposed amendments to the General Statutes and regulations

21 March – The General Assembly will be received in a private audience by Pope Leo XIV

Stefania Tanesini
with the Multimedia and Linguistic Services Communication Tea

Photo: ยฉ CSC Audiovisivi

Middle East Emergency

Middle East Emergency

The relentless news coming from the whole of the Middle East is causing growing dismay among the many people who sincerely want peace and security for everyone, and not only for some. Unfortunately, authoritative appeals for diplomacy to take precedence over armed conflict, and calls for prayers for peace, seem futile and naive.

However, precisely because of the severity of current events, which unfortunately combine and amplify with other war and humanitarian crises, a courageous and prophetic response is required from every single person, every citizen who cares about the common good and peace as their primary concern.

The Focolare Movement, which has communities living in many of the areas affected by conflict, is also renewing its commitment on many levels. From emergency aid for the most vulnerable populations forced to live in uncertainty and fear and deprived of all forms of sustenance, to active citizenship initiatives within its own institutions and in civil society.

The Emergency Coordination Team of the Focolare Movement is therefore renewing its appeal for solidarity to help the thousands of families who have fled their homes: many have lost their homes, while others are seeking refuge in facilities that are reopening their doors despite increasingly limited resources. In this constantly changing scenario, we want to remain close to those who are suffering, ready to support local initiatives who are offering shelter and practical help.

Every contribution will provide immediate support and allow us to imagine together a future of hope and reconstruction.

We invite everyone to join us in this commitment: Peace is also built in this way, by choosing not to look the other way.

You can donate online:

Or by bank transfer to the following accounts:

Azione per un Mondo Unito ETS (AMU) IBAN: IT 58 S 05018 03200 000011204344 at Banca Popolare Etica Codice SWIFT/BIC: ETICIT22XXX

Azione per Famiglie Nuove ETS | Banca Etica โ€“ filiale 1 di Roma โ€“ Agenzia n. 0 | Codice IBAN: IT 92 J 05018 03200 000016978561 | BIC/SWIFT: ETICIT22XXX

Reason for payment: Middle East Emergency

Tax benefits are available for such donations in many EU countries and in other countries around the world, according to different local regulations. Italian contributors will be able to obtain deductions and allowances from income, according to the rules for non-profit organisations

Photo courtesy of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem

Living the Gospel: โ€œArise and do not be afraidโ€ (Mt 17: 7)

Living the Gospel: “Arise and do not be afraid” (Mt 17: 7)

Like a ripe grain of wheat

Almost three years after his arrival, medical tests revealed that Elio had a tumour with widespread metastases. Surgery was pointless. A question spontaneously arose within me: why did it happen to him, a person in the fullness of human and spiritual maturity, who could still give a lot to our community, where his wise and calm presence had already helped resolve a difficult situation? Mine was a cry of painful, almost of protest. Then, reflecting with some friends, we reviewed several examples in the Bible, from Abraham to Job, without finding immediate answers. Certain events cannot be explained without faith. During those days I happened to read an illuminating text by Saint Leo the Great: “The Church is the Lord’s field that is clothed with an increasingly rich harvest, because the grains that fall one by one are reborn multiplied”. This is what it was! Only from this perspective could I accept the departure to Heaven of a dear friend. He fell like a large, ripe grain of wheat. I had to believe that from this a full and beautiful ear of wheat would be born.

(G. โ€“ Belgium)

Little Great Miracles

I was born in Brazil, but later lived for nine years in another Latin American country with sky-high inflation and widespread poverty that fuelled crime. One day, a friend came to me in tears because she had just been robbed of the only salary which would support her family, since her husband was unemployed and they had four children. What could I do? I simply tried to console her, suggesting that she forgive and pray for the thiefโ€™s conversion. But she reacted by saying she would never do that. “In that case,” I replied, “I will pray for him.” A few days later, that same friend came back to see me, but this time with a completely different expression and spirit: happily, she told me that the thief must truly have repented because he had left the bag he had stolen in a shop where she was known. And, astonishingly, her salary was still inside, nothing was missing.

(T.G.S.C. โ€“ Brazil)

In a Wheelchair

For a long time now, because of my rheumatoid arthritis, I have been living in a wheelchair. Between hospitalizations and operations, I must have spent three years of my life in hospital. Often, due to the excruciating pain, I find myself completely immobile, unable even to comb my hair or hold a glass. I have had to give up many things I cared about. However, I have a cheerful disposition and often respond to my illness with a touch of humour. Gradually, understanding the “wisdom of the cross” has helped me to accept suffering as the most sublime form of love and to offer my small drop especially for the people who suffer most, for the Church, for the unity for which Jesus prayed. Now I no longer ask God “Why?”, but only: “Help me, Lord”. I try not to burden others with my physical problems and I think that I succeed fairly well, so much so that they find me quite joyful. Everything works for the good if we are open to the love of God. In fact, everyone in our family felt they had to take a step forward. Even our children have matured quickly and have become more responsible.

(Branka โ€“ Croatia)

compiled by Maria Grazia Berretta

(taken from The Gospel of the Day, Cittร  Nuova, year XIIโ€“ no. 1 March-April 2026)

Photo: ยฉ Pexels Shvets-Production

News 3 โ€“ 2026 General Assembly

News 3 โ€“ 2026 General Assembly

Dal 2 al 4 marzo lโ€™Assemblea generale dei Focolari ha vissuto il ritiro spirituale. Giorni di ascolto dello Spirito, silenzio personale, preghiera per la pace, ma anche di immersione in alcune delle problematiche globali che affrontiamo, presentate da personalitร  di varie culture.

Andrea Riccardi, Italian historian and founder of the Community of Sant’Egidio, sees a true call to fraternity for the Movements in the current world situation. A call that we often do not hear, perhaps because we are closed in on our own problems. It is only by โ€œgoing outโ€, in contact with real life, that we will fulfil our mission. Vinu Aram, doctor and Director of the Shanti Ashram International Centre in India, emphasised that, in order to build peace, we also need a deep spiritual formation.

The wounds suffered by millions of women and men โ€“ poverty, injustice, migration โ€“ were the starting point for Fr. Vilson Groh, a Brazilian priest working in the suburbs of Florianรณpolis (Brazil), and Emilce Cuda, an Argentine theologian and professor, Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. They shed light on the enormous inequalities present on the planet and spoke of how working for the least among us is an essential aspect of our lives, a privileged expression of Jesus Forsaken to be sought and encountered.

The treasure of each relationship as a source of fulfilment and freedom was the focus of the speech by Chiara Giaccardi, an Italian sociologist specialising in cultural and communication processes. It is not just a question of seeking and promoting self-fulfilment, but rather co-fulfilment, the possibility of creating something new together, a generative space.

But do words such as relationship and freedom still have meaning in the era of Artificial Intelligence and increasingly manipulative systems? Paolo Ruffini, Italian journalist, Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication of the Holy See, and Fadi Chehadรฉ, one of the world’s leading experts in the field of information technology, spoke about the great opportunities and enormous responsibilities we have in every field of communication, especially now that Artificial Intelligence is invading and pervading our lives. This is not a call to stop using technology; on the contrary, we must support its ethical use and return to human relationships with courage, as Chehadรฉ recalled, quoting a teaching of his father, โ€œmaking our homes and our communities not fortresses, but oasesโ€.

The 5th of March, was entirely devoted to the 2021-2026 Five-Year Report presented in the hall by President Margaret Karram, together with some reflections by Co-President Jesรบs Morรกn. The contents of the report were discussed and reflected upon both in groups and in a plenary session.

Stefania Tanesini
with the Multimedia Communication and Linguistic Services team

Photo: ยฉ CSC Audiovisivi