Over 50 Bishops from 30 countries and 4 continents, who are interested in the Focolare spirituality, met together in Castelgandolfo from 27 February to 5 March. During the programme, rich with talks and a sharing of experiences, they looked at the challenges of the modern world and studied the social, economic and political implications of Benedict XVI’s latest encyclical Caritas in Veritate.

Among the main speakers, as well as Card. Miloslav Vlk, the convenor of these congresses, were Card. G.B. Re, Prefect of the Congregation of Bishops, Card. Claudio Hummes, Prefect of the Congregation of the Clergy, Card. Annio Antonelli, President of the Pontifical Council for the Family, and the emeritus Cardinals Adrianus J Simonis, ex-Archbishop of Utrecht, Holland and Giovanni Cheli of the Roman Curia. 

In an atmosphere of fraternal sharing and friendship, this meeting offered a unique occasion for intellectual and spiritual enrichment. A lively dialogue followed the meditations and reflections on the problems of our times, and the witnesses of priests, in the context of the Year for Priests, committed on different fronts in a society that is completely secularised or totally indifferent to religious values.

The recently founded University Institute ‘Sophia’, based at Loppiano (near Florence), gave important contributions on exegesis, the debate between science and faith, evolution and creation, and economy, allowing a 360 degree vision on many human realities in the perspective of interpreting facts and daily news in the light of revelation.

Similar congresses have taken place or are planned in other countries:

Asia: Bangkok from 9-13 February at the same time as the visit by Maria Voce, President of the Focolare Movement.
Africa: Mid-March in Bangui, Cameroun
Middle-East, Brazil (San Paolo) in April and Columbia (Bogota) also in April.