May 11, 2019 | Non categorizzato
The Movement has been in Bulgaria since the 1970s and the community there actively collaborated in various ways during the Papal visit: in the choir, volunteering during the event, in the liturgy and by giving interviews. The two days of the Papal visit went by in a flash, generating enormous interest not only among Catholics, who are only 0.6% of the Bulgarian population, but in all parts of society. Even during the preparations, the media gave great prominence to the event, creating a great sense of expectation in public opinion. During the visit, the main television stations in the country followed everything at it happened. The meeting with His Holiness Patriarch Neophyte of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church was very cordial and the Patriarch welcomed the Pope warmly. 
A large number of people took part in the events. The liturgy took place in the square where rallies used to be held by a regime that had harshly persecuted the Church. In fact, the sacristy was in the former Party Headquarters! Fifteen thousand people gathered there, and in other parts of the city they watched the event on large screens, which was unusual for Bulgaria as it is an overwhelmingly Orthodox country. The Pope managed to speak to the hearts of the Bulgarian people, despite the language problems, but through what he did, his very being and his extraordinary capacity to communicate with everyone. An example of this occurred the next day, in Rakovski, a small town which is predominantly Catholic. During the Mass, the Pope, in a surprise change of programme, gave First Communion to all 245 children who were to receive it, not just the 10 who had been chosen. He engaged in a spontaneous dialogue with them, underlining the main points of the faith and the sacredness of what was happening. Then, in the afternoon, at the meeting with the Catholic community, where there were many spontaneous gestures and greetings, Pope Francis delighted the 700 people present in a small church. After experiences from a nun, a priest, a family and the young people, the Pope gave his talk, interrupting it several times to speak off-the-cuff, generating a spontaneous and lively reaction on the part of those present. The Focolare contributed in various ways, wherever they were asked; in the choir, in the distribution of invitations in different areas, volunteering during the events, in the liturgy, giving interviews etc. To sustain the Pope during his visit, they gave him a box of Argentinian tea (mate). The Movement arrived in Bulgaria in the 1970’s. It was the only lay group in the country during the Communist years and the most rooted in the local Church. The women’s Focolare has been in Sofia since 1991 and the Movement’s community is now in 9 cities in the country, comprising Catholics, Orthodox and people without particularly religious beliefs. We have strong bonds of friendship with Orthodox Church leaders at various levels. This visit, amongst other things, has given us the opportunity to deepen relationships built over time, meet new people and renew old friendships.
Majda Šušteršič
May 10, 2019 | Non categorizzato
The Pope has signed new norms for the whole Church against those who abuse or cover up. The Focolare, too, has drawn up guidelines and procedures, outlined by Co-President Jesús Morán in a report presented during the recent Focolare “Collegamento” Conference Call. Dated 7 May, entitled Vos estis lux mundi – You are the light of the world – the document is a motu proprio, namely an instrument used when a Pope wishes personally to introduce something new or give new instructions to the faithful. This is Pope Francis’ latest action towards combating abuse against minors and vulnerable people within the Church. It is a vital step along this road. A range of legislative measures regarding the Roman Curia and the Vatican City State were announced at the end of the February Summit in the Vatican on the Protection of Minors. Now this latest normative document is directed at the whole Church. It establishes new procedures for reporting abuse and violence. It ensures bishops and religious superiors are held accountable for their actions. It includes the obligation for clerics and religious to report abuse. It encourages the laity to report abuse and violence to the competent ecclesiastical authorities and at the same time it mandates that each diocese must have a system in place to allow the public accessible ways to submit reports of abuse. The repercussions of this move reach beyond the Church into civil life because, as is well known, the scandal of abuse, both in the past and more recent times, touches the very roots of society, within family, school and sporting environments etc. The document deals with such a grievous issue, yet the Pope has chosen to open it with a phrase from Matthew’s Gospel which expresses hope and light, affirming: “Our Lord Jesus Christ calls every believer to be a shining example of virtue, integrity and holiness”. These virtues are to be lived by all people, and most certainly by those who by embracing the life of consecration to God, should never betray anyone’s trust, should never betray a child. As already reported, the Focolare Movement, with great suffering, has found itself not to be immune from this scandal. In a letter dated 26 March 2019, Focolare President Maria Voce and Co-President Jesús Morán communicated to all members of the Movement throughout the world the Focolare’s commitment to facing this issue. “It deeply pains us – they wrote – to recognise that, also in our own large family of the Focolare, some cases of abuse regarding minors (about 20) caused by people who belong to the Movement or by people who have taken part in meetings organised by us, have occurred. Most of these occurred in the remote past (over 20 years ago), but unfortunately some have occurred in the recent past. Consecrated members of the Movement were also involved in these”. They reiterate the Movement’s “zero tolerance” of any form of violence or abuse, and the duty of every Focolare member to take personal responsibility regarding protection from any form of mistreatment, bullying or cyber-bullying, paying particular attention to minors and vulnerable adults. They urge members to report every suspicion of abuse or violence to the local commissions and the Central Commission for the Wellbeing and Protection of Minors, established in 2015 by the Focolare’s International Centre. They unequivocally warn against the temptation not to report cases “for the good of the Movement, to avoid scandal or protect someone’s good name”. In a recent interview for the Focolare’s international Conference Call, the Co-President emphasized the Movement’s full adherence to the Church’s current approach. Dr Morán explains, “we felt we needed to acknowledge publically the fact that we too have been touched by this tragedy, and so we’re working for the victims to find justice, which also involves embarking on a process of accompanying at a general and practical level”. He recognises this as a great purification for the Movement and points out that our commitment to the protection of minors cannot be confined to Focolare circles. “With this letter we have tried to tell all the members of the Movement that it is important to engage at all levels so that this tragedy, this immense pain, which is a social and moral tragedy, should end as soon as possible and there be no more of these cases of abuse”. The Movement’s commitment is now focussed on prevention and formation of all its members, in particular those involved in children’s activities. Essential to this is collaboration with all the Movement’s agencies working with minors, including the Gen 3 and Gen 4 centres and the New Families Movement. Watch the Conference Call report: Protection of minors: transparency, prevention, training https://vimeo.com/333055363
May 9, 2019 | Non categorizzato
Founder of L’Arche, Jean Vanier, true apostle of “the least”, has died. The Focolare joins in remembering him with immense gratitude. We recall him together with Chiara and other founders of movements and new communities in St Peter’s Square for the historic meeting of Pentecost 1998. The date 30th May 1998 resounds in many hearts as “the meeting of Pentecost”. On that occasion, Pope John Paul II called all the ecclesial movements and new communities together in St Peter’s Square for the first time ever. Four of the founders were invited to speak in front of the Pope: Chiara Lubich, Kiko Arguello, Don Luigi Giussani, and Jean Vanier, founder of the L’Arche community, who left us on 7 May, at 90 years of age. His great work at the service of people with disabilities and those often considered the “least” in society, began in 1964 and led to the creation of over 150 centres around the world. The Focolare also enjoyed his wonderful capacity for friendship, and appreciates the strong support he gave through his faithful presence at all “Together for Europe” (link) events. Jean Vanier’s words to Pope John Paul II in St Peter’s Square conveyed his passion for the evangelical goal of unity. “Welcoming people with disabilities from different Christian traditions, welcoming Muslims, Jews and Hindus too, we have discovered how much the poor can unite us. Men and women belonging to different churches and different religions have helped us discover the mystery of our common humanity. We discover how, if we welcome a poor person, they lead us to the God of love, they lead us to Jesus”. In November 2013, at Montmartre in France, Jean Vanier addressed a meeting of friends of “Together for Europe”. The main theme of the event was the contribution Christian communities and movements can offer to eliminate poverty and marginalization in Europe. Jean Vanier began by quoting the Gospel: “Jesus said, ‘The Kingdom of God is like a marriage feast’ where everyone was too busy to attend. So the king sent his servants into the byways to seek out the lame and the helpless. And this is what I’ve tried to live all my life”. He dedicated himself particularly to those with intellectual disabilities, whom he defined as “the most oppressed people”. “They have changed me,” he declared, “I have seen that the Kingdom of God is theirs”. We express our condolences to his spiritual family throughout the world, and think of the great welcome that surely awaited him in heaven from the host of “the least” he had welcomed into his home and heart while on this earth.
Stefania Tanesini
May 8, 2019 | Non categorizzato
The Focolare Community is present even in the small Balkan republic visited by Pope Francis from 5 to 7 May. Mato Mikulec spoke to us about the Community’s contribution towards this event. 
“Dialogue has always been one of this country’s main characteristics, and in the Focolare Community one comes across both Christian (Catholics and Orthodox) and Muslim members”. Mato Mikulec, one of the first Focolare members in Skopje, was born in Croatia, but he moved to Macedonia 30 years ago because of work. He lived the Pope’s visit with anxiety and great joy. He said: “As Francis has peripheries so much at heart, he came to support and encourage this country’s small Catholic community; yet he did not come only for this. He considers all men to be precious and he came as everyone’s friend. The Pope really appreciates the spirit of tollerance and of peaceful coexistence that mark this people”. Mato now considers Macedonia as his homeland; the majority of the population (64%) is Macedonian, then there are also Albanians (25%) and Turks (4%); the rest come from other different countries. The two main religions are Christianity and Islam; 99% of the Christians belong to the Orthodox Church while the remaining 1% are Catholics that belong to the Western and Eastern rites. History tells us that Macedonia’s Christian tradition dates back to the time of the Apostle Paul. Later there were other evangelizers who contributed towards the spread of Christianity; among these, the two brothers, Cyril and Methodius who worked among the Slavs during the ninth century. There were many others who influenced the religious and cultural development of the Slavic peoples, but the Balkan region also experienced the painful division between Churches and the powerful dominion of rulers, such as the Ottomon rule that lasted for more than 500 years. Mato continued:“But the people still managed to preserve certain values, such as religiousness, openness to diversity and a keen aspiration to communion. So it is not surprising that such a beautiful flower as Mother Theresa bloomed in this country”. He related that it was Kiro Stojanov, the local Bishop and state authorities who invited Pope Francis to visit Macedonia, while he explained: “Here, we have a very beautiful tradition; every year a State delegation goes to Rome to visit St Cyril’s tomb which lies at St. Celement Basilica. Representatives of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches also join this delegation, and an audience with the Holy Father is included in the programme. It was on this occasion that the Pope was invited to visit us”. He also spoke to us about the first years of the Focolare Movement in Macedonia and Kosovo. He said that the first contacts started in the 70’s when Antonio Petrilli, one of the first focolarini went there to visit Luka Cirimotić, a friend of his who was a priest. In the 80’s a family from Zagreb went to settle in Skopje and thus the first community started to grow; in it there were youths and adults, families and religious, members of different Churches and religions and also persons with no particular religious conviction. It was thanks to Bishop Kiro Stojanov’s commitment, that the female Focolare in Skopje was set up in 2006. The opening of this focolare was the last one to have Chiara Lubich’s personal approval before she passed away. Mato continued: “We realize that diversity is not an obstacle to sincere communion and fraternity, and that these become more visible and more appreciated even by leaders of various religious communities. For us, Focolare members, the Pope’s visit was a moment of special joy. We think that the Pope felt the love and communion among us, while he conveyed the new face and embrace of a Church where even our community has its place”.
Stefania Tanesini
May 8, 2019 | Non categorizzato
Maria Voce to the young Syrians: “Do not let your values be stolen from you. Join all the young people who want a better world. The world is waiting for you.” “Thank you for the hope and the vitality you have given us”. These are the words that Maria Voce addressed to the Focolare communities of Syria through a video message at the end of her visit to Syria from the 1st to the 8th of May. These were intense days in which the Focolare president, together with the co-president, Jesús Morán, visited the cities of Homs, Kafarbo, Seydnaya and Damascus. They met communities, people engaged in parishes or in social works, families, children, young people, priests and religious. They were received by the bishops and by the Apostolic Nuncio – Cardinal Mario Zenari. They experienced first-hand the terrible wounds that the war has left on the structures and on the souls of the Syrian people – traumas and tragedies of all kinds. They got to know the inside story of the difficult, almost desperate situation of a country that had become the puppet of numerous external forces – a country which suffered a heavy economic war, even before the military conflict was over. So how is it possible that Maria Voce ended this visit by thanking the Syrian people for the hope and strength received from them? One of the keys to understanding this is undoubtedly the last stage of the visit. At the invitation of the Melkite Patriarch, Monsignor Youssef Absi, 230 young people -Catholics and those from several other Churches – met on Monday 6 May at the Greek Catholic Cathedral in Damascus. On this occasion while responding to a few questions, Maria Voce made a strong appeal to the Syrian youth: “Do not let your values be stolen from you. Join all the young people who want a better world. The world is waiting for you.” Later the co-president, Jesús Morán, explained the profound motivation of these words: “These young people have experienced that everything collapses; yet they have preserved a deep thirst for God and a true sense of community. Perhaps they are not completely aware of it, but they are in an ideal spiritual situation, from which great things can grow.” What needs to be done, then, to create the conditions in which these seeds of hope can grow and flourish in Syria? Anyone who knows at least a little about the past and recent history of this country, might suggest a double solution for leaving Syria and the Syrians in peace. The first part of the solution would be for all the conflict to cease. The second part of the solution would be for all the great powers of the Middle East and of all the other parts of the world that want to exploit Syria, to leave the country to find its own way. These Syrian people, who, according to Maria Voce, have such strength and such tenderness, are more than capable of taking their destiny into their own hands.
Joachim Schwind
