The city of Milan unites around the memory of Chiara Lubich who was made an honorary citizen there in 2004. It is not an easy time for the capital of Lombardy but on 17 March, two years after the death of the founder of the Focolare Movement (14 March 2008), a convention was held entitled ‘Seeds of Fraternity for a more united world’, in the prestigious Alessi Hall of the Palazzo Marino. The Mayor Letizia Moratti and the City Council welcomed the guests and speakers. ‘Milan feels very close to Chiara Lubich’s international commitment’, the Mayor said. ‘ The awareness that dialogue and the meeting of different cultures, by themselves are enough to overcome misunderstandings between peoples; that the values of solidarity and communion are the basis upon which to build a future of peace. Her path is an example of how love for neighbour can give a concrete meaning to human activity.’ Many people in Milan today feel the urgency for a new message of hope. Mons Gianni Zappa, of the Archdiocese of Milan, pointed out the importance of dialogue in Chiara Lubich’s spirituality, while Prof Stefano Zamagni showed how the principle of fraternity breaks down traditional schemes of political and economic conflict. Maria Voce, President of the Focolare Movement, closed the convention with these words: ‘ I think Chiara managed to indentify a specific vocation for this beautiful city, the vocation to goodness, to love, to the art of loving. The fulfilment of this project is an aim that Milan must follow with great commitment so as not to betray a plan of God. We want to take on this commitment also, as a way of living out Chiara’s legacy, and offer the full availability of the people of the movement who live here. The following day, in the Basilica of St Ambrose, heart of the Ambrosian Church, the Archbishop of Milan, Card. Dionigi Tettamanzi celebrated mass to thank the Lord, as he said, for the great gift that Chiara Lubich’s holy life has been for the Church and for society. The Basilica was packed with the large local Focolare community, and also with many friends and people who identify with Chiara’s dream of building universal fraternity: politicians, businessmen, representatives from other ecclesial movements and members of other churches.