The so-called “Golden Rule” proposed by the Gospel, “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you” (Mt 7.12), is also found in Islam and other religions, and if put at the basis of every relationship generates – as what occurred in these lands – that love which stirs up a fertile “dialogue of life” with every person one meets. It may be a dialogue woven with small gestures, care for the other, respect, and listening. It was due to this concrete love for the other that some Focolare communities were formed in Morocco, and where love and respect have prevailed over differences in culture, traditions and religion.

Here are some excerpts of the travel diary of the two focolarini during their visit to these communities at the end of January and the first days of February 2015.

«Here we are at Fez, an imperial city that is very proud of its highly spiritual tradition. Numerous students from sub-Saharan Africa come here for their secondary studies. They willingly frequent the French parish and the parish priest, Fr. Matteo, asked us to hold a catechesis on the sacraments for about 20 young people. It was an occasion to have a deep and pleasant exchange of ideas. The parish’s Word of life group gathered about 30 students of medicine, chemistry, informatics plus other five who arrived from Rabat. Lucile recounted how she tries to live the world of life in the public hospital where she works. We had dinner at the convent of the little Sisters of Foucauld.

We reached Tangiers to meet a group of 15people, Muslims and Christians who live the spirituality of unity. In the evening we stayed at the home of a couple who consider us their blood brothers. He was transferred to a workplace that takes 24 hours to reach, but this distance from his wife became an occasion to rediscover the positive aspects in one another.

We had breakfast at Mohamed’s. His wife wants to deepen her knowledge of the spirituality of unity. He told us that the guard of the building where he works stopped greeting him ever since he refused to bring him the oil of the Spanish landlady, taking advantage of her absence, as he would have wanted. When he later received a litre of oil from his mother, he offered it to the guard, explaining that this time the oil was his own, and could thus do as he wanted with it. The man, a bit surprised, thanked him and excused himself. They had reconciled. We spent the afternoon with the group of families of the community: Ahmed invited us to stay for the night. We passed the evening with his family, and they offered us a typical dish for dinner.

A visit to the small periphery school founded by Fawzia. The district is full of children playing in the muddy and chaotic streets. Houses sprout out everywhere like mushrooms. Felice told us about two children who asked to enroll in her school, even if for some time now, a neighbour stationed himself at her school’s entrance to convince the parents to enroll their children elsewhere. After asking him for some explanations about this, Fawzia continued to love and do her work with excellent scholastic results. Six days later, due to the good reputation the school achieved in the area, there were new enrolments!

Journey to Casablanca to visit Susana and the evening with Mohammed and Nadedj in a Japanese restaurant. We talked to them about Loppiano, the recent Mariapolis in Algiers, and the meetings we held. Tomorrow we shall return to Algiers and Italy, respectively, with the joy of having built and strengthened many relationships in unity, enriched by the meeting with these people who have undertaken the commitment to live their daily lives, for a more united world. »

Claude and Ivano (Morocco, January/February 2015)