An injection of trust
Could you tell us something about the ‘Together for Europe’ meeting in Munich? ‘It was a very constructive experience because it gave the possibility for members of different movements to meet again and to participate in the many expressions the movements have. This participation in the life and charism of the other is an enrichment because it opens us to the gifts of the other. It’s always interesting to see that at the end of the day, notwithstanding the variety of charisms, there is a common foundation to all of these movements: belief in God, in Jesus Christ, sent by the Father for the salvation of the world. I often think that the expressions of the Movements are like lots of flowers on the one tree. You could see this tree very well in Munich – and it was solid, very solid.’ What is the role of these movements in the Church and in Europe today? ‘To give witness to the possibility of communion. To be a committed and knowledgeable laity. Not a laity where each person goes their own way, but one that decides to share with others the same aim: unity. The unity of the churches, the unity of Europe, unity amongst everyone. We may go ahead in different ways, but we are all going in the same direction and all together. The presence of the bishops was important, in this sense, and the recognition they gave of the usefulness of the path followed together so far for a more Christian Europe, not only more united, but more Christian because founded on Christian principles. But Christians in Europe are divided. How significant is this division? ‘It is the suffering of living together for a unity which is not yet complete. When we have reciprocal love and the sufferings of one become the sufferings of the other, it’s possible to be open. It’s possible to become aware of the difficulties that still exist and also the possibilities we have of overcoming them a little at a time. We also have to understand what can be done as we wait for the theologians in charge of dialogue to find the right words and means to reach expressions of truth that we can all agree about. Surely truth must be one, not multiple. We must reach a truth that is expressed in a way that everyone can accept. Logically this is the work of the Holy Spirit, but we think and we see that the more reciprocal love there is between Christians, the easier it is to agree on some points that may be controversial and to find a way to understand each other and to go ahead together. It’s like when you are climbing a mountain: sometimes you need to stop a moment to think about the next stage. I think this witness is very important at a time when there are many shadows on the Church. We must show the truth of what Jesus says about himself: my words will not pass away. The accusations that weigh on the Church today will disappear if we can show the Church as it should be, that is, if we show this reality of communion between us and our decision to live the Gospel in a radical way. Is this the answer the movements can give in the current situation the Church is in? ‘We must convert ourselves to living the Gospel more and to live it more in communion. The main thing is to help everyone to believe in God’s love and to live out what God asks of us in the present moment with generosity and in a radical way.’ The theme of the Kirchentag was hope. Was the “Together for Europe’ meeting a sign of hope? ‘Definitely. You could see that from the joy in everybody there. In whatever moment you entered, you had the impression of an injection of trust. Trust in God, trust in humanity, trust in the Church.’ From our correspondent Maria Kuschel
35 kilometers from Paris stands the newly begun citadel of the Focolare in France. It is surrounded by greenery, in the Parco d’ Arny (Bruyeres-le-Chatel). The population is quite diverse in this area, made up of just over a million people. It is a rural setting, endowed with high tech industry,
On the next day, May 12, they visited every corner of the citadel. After visiting the town of Bruyeres-le-Chatel where they admired the magnificent 11th century Church of St Didier, Maria Voce and Giancarlo began their tour with a cup of hot coffee at the “guardian’s house” where there are two flats which have been renovated to accommodate guests. From there they went on to the “main house” which houses the women’s focolare and a family that moved to the new citadel.
Sunday 9 May. In the western outskirts of Paris the Boulogne-Billancourt Theatre is crowded. There are over 600 people from all over Northern France, from Vandea to Alsace, not forgetting those from the capital itself and surroundings as well as representatives of different nations, most noticeably a numerous group from Cameroon. Explosions of joy alternate with moments of silence, of listening. The diversity and richness of the Focolare’s work in these regions are presented to Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti. In Alsace, for example, there are a number of initiatives to encourage people from different political parties to meet together in search of a common good; the Western region presents its work with the different churches and ecclesial communities in the ‘Together for Europe’ project, where about 800 people participate; the Ile de France area tells of an experience of fraternity between children of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds; while a teacher from the Northern outskirts of Paris tells of his work with his students to change the climate of violence which dominates their school by putting into practice the points of the Art of Loving. Their experience has spread to other schools; and finally the work carried out around the small town of Arny, in the context of the Economy of Communion, giving a light of hope in an economic world that is so disorientated. In the second part of the programme, Maria Voce replies to questions that are put to her on different topics, in an atmosphere of great joy and freedom. Songs and choreographies, animated by a group of young people, envelope the hall in a final festive dance. 
The following day begins under the protection of Mary at the Sanctuary of the Miraculous Medal, a place of pilgrimage for millions of visitors each year. Afterwards, a press conference at the Centre d’Accueil de la Presse Etrangere (CAPE), near the Champs-Elysees. In the afternoon a visit to Cardinal Vingt-Trois, Archbishop of Paris and President of the French Bishop’s Conference. Maria Voce updates him on her recent visit to the Pope; then to the Nunciature, with a warm welcome from the Nuncio, Mons Luigi Ventura, and a special Italian coffee as a sign of welcome. At the end of the afternoon, Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti meet with a group of priests of the Movement coming from different regions: they are dynamic, and well known and valued in their dioceses. They are often entrusted with important responsibilities. The day finishes with a meeting with the directors of the different branches and aspects of the movement in France (about 40) who provide the guests with a rich and varied overview of the work done by the Focolare in France. Maria Voce takes the occasion to underline the importance of this group – ‘which forms the heart of a territory and from which everything should begin’, thanks to the reciprocal love amongst its members and an attentive listening to the Holy Spirit, in order to understand which initiatives to take ahead.
Southern France, 6 – 8 May 2010 Thursday, 6 May 2010. Visit to the Mariapolis Center in St Pierre de Chartreuse where more than 2,000 people are welcomed each year. “This centre is a jewel,” said Emmaus, which carries its name so well: The People of God.” In the afternoon, Maria Voce and Giancarlo were with the Abbot of the Great Chartreuse, the Reverend Father Marcelin. It was a meeting and communion marked by the memory of Chiara. Change of scene: From the great silence of St Pierre to the noisy traffic of Lyon! But the same active presence of God was present in the evening at a meeting between Maria Voce and Giancarlo and a group of leaders from various Movements from the South of France as Maria Voce underscored that “the essential thing would be to share what we live interiorly, to live this communion, this mutual love which later allows everyone to discern – with the help of the Holy Spirit – what should or shouldn’t be done, and how it should be done.” Friday, 7 May 2010, Lyon, the Capital of Gaul Following a short tour of the city, three significant events marked the afternoon and evening: An interview with Maria Voce on RCF (French Catholic Radio) where she talked about the specific charism of this movement and its “Marian profile” in the heart of the Church and of Humanity. Then there was an encounter of profound communion with Cardinal Barbarin, during which was mentioned the current interest of the Church concerning the forthcoming beatification of Chiara Luce Badano, and the Focolare Movement’s ecumenical dimension. The evening ended with a meeting for young people. It was a moment of joy and free expression. Maria Voce and Giancarlo replied to several questions, including one on true love: “What does it mean to give and not want anything for yourself, to serve instead of making use of others to serve your needs?” It was an intense moment born from the life and needs of young people in today’s world. Then there was the conclusion with celebration, souvenir photos, and the profound joy which was visible on every face. Saturday, 8 May 2010 In the morning, Maria Voce and Giancarlo met members of the focolares of Southern France. It was a special moment of communion in which joys and sorrows were shared, forging strong bonds of unity around the One Treasure for whom they had each given up everything: God. In the afternoon there was a meeting for the community, with about 500 people from the regions of Lyon , Drome-Ardèche, French Riviera, St Etienne, Montpellier, Toulouse, Aurillac, Corsica, Isle de la Reunion. After a presentation of the groups, many of the issues that have so strongly influenced these regions were described through experiences made by some of the participants including a Muslim: injustice, sharing, openness, tolerance and fundamentalism, fear, responding, safety, crisis, violence , commitment, stress, truth. With their lives, the members of the Focolare Movement saw that they were able to offer real and authentic answers to each of these problems. Maria Voce concluded her visit in France urging everyone to look at people and events through the eyes of God, recognizing the miracles God works both within our lives and around us.
In recent days a group of young people from the Buddhist Rissho Kosei Movement concluded their visit in Italy, for an encounter with youths of the Focolare Movement. This was the third such meeting. A dozen young Japanese spent a week in Italy with meetings for dialogue with other youths from around the world. The program began on the first of May with the traditional Youth Day at Loppiano, a small town of the Focolare Movement near Florence. The contribution of the Japanese delegation greatly enriched the event not only by giving it a religious flavour, but also by engaging the participants in the collection of signatures for the Arms Down Project, launched last November by the Religions for Peace in Costa Rica and by several other youth organizations including Rissho Kosei Kai and Youth for a United World of the Focolare Movement.