“We have chosen to tell stories of closeness and fraternity that are the fruit of the commitment of many people and communities around the world who are striving to generate trust every day.” With these words, Margaret Karram, president of the Focolare Movement, opened the event presenting the 2024 Assessment of Communion in Action, held on the 6th of November 2025 at the Augustinian Patristic Pontifical Institute in Rome. This document goes beyond a financial report and describes the ongoing projects in various countries linked to the Focolare Movement and their specific impact on individuals, communities and geographical areas. “It does not merely measure numbers, but speaks of relationships,” emphasised Sister Alessandra Smerilli, secretary of the Dicastery for Integral Human Development. “Communion is a strategic asset. It is not simply the sharing of resources, but the building of bonds that generate trust, cohesion and resilience. In economic terms, it is relational capital: it reduces exclusion costs, encourages participation and enables processes of integral human development. Where there is communion, fragility becomes an opportunity, because those who are part of networks of reciprocity have a better chance of being able to escape marginalisation. In a time of great inequality, this assessment is both a prophetic statement and good news: every single act is important.”

The figures

Ruperto Battiston, co-responsible for the Focolare Movement’s finances, explains the figures: “The 2024 Assessment of Communion in Action shows an income of €8.1 million from donations, from the communion of goods given freely by those belonging to the Movement and from contributions of external institutions for training projects. Expenditure amounted to €9.6 million and was allocated to initiatives that generate long-term value: local projects, little towns, social initiatives and educational and cultural programmes, as well as to support the International Centre.

Thanks to an extraordinary communion of goods of €208,568, it was possible to help people belonging to the Movement who are in situations of particular need and also the structures that help those who are poor.

In addition, the Economy of Communion distributed 394 individual grants and supported 14 projects in 13 countries, for a total of €669,566.

Among the many figures, this year we have chosen to highlight the sums allocated to structures involved in safeguarding and formation in safeguarding, as recommended in the recent report by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.”

Stefania Tanesini