To all our dearest members of the Focolare Movement in Japan,

Here at the Centre, together with all our people in the Movement throughout the world, we are following with great trepidation the serious situation in your beloved country.

Our hearts are there with you all in this moment of great suffering and suspense caused by the immense trial that has hit Japan…

The circumstances that you are going through made us think straight away of that “everything was crumbling” that characterised the story of our Ideal. We know, however, that that general destruction was the background on which a new light for humanity arose.

Therefore we do not want to stop looking up high, we do not want to stop believing that God-Love allows everything for a greater good. With this certainty, let’s keep hope alive and let’s transmit it to every neighbour that passes us by.

The witness of serenity and dignity, with which you and all the Japanese population deal with these circumstances, comforts us and helps us understand the value of your culture.

I vividly remember my visit to your beautiful community last year; knowing you all in person gave me such a joy. Now sharing this deep suffering with you makes the reality of being a family- “Chiara’s family”- even stronger. During these days in which we celebrate the third anniversary of Chiara’s departure for Heaven, we remember her all over the world. She is alive among us more than ever and therefore she is beside you in a special way to protect and help you.

Count on my prayers and on the prayers of everyone in the Movement. Lets ask God together to bring all the victims of this catastrophe to Heaven, to support the survivors, protecting them from other danger.

I send my love to each one of you,

Maria Voce (Emmaus)