United world week 2007: Universal fraternity, work in progress
“Look around you and see the needs of others. Can you help? Go beyond animosity and prejudice, forgive those who have wronged you. Whatever idea you have – for orphanages, hospices, hospitals – remember, your city is your own!” That was one of the many invitations issued world wide, by Youth for a United World, for United World Week. Since Genfest 1995, and for the last eleven years, United World Week has issued an annual appeal to young people all over the world, to national and international bodies, and to everyone, to support projects that promote unity at all levels. The official start :Sunday October 14. Many projects, however, began on Saturday October 13.There are hundreds of events all over the world in which thousands of young people commit themselves to break down the barriers that divide us – through the sharing of ideas, material goods and experiences. 
World wide link up on Saturday and Sunday October 20 and 21. The high point of the week is the telephone call linking young people in over 100 cities: this year Nepal and Syria will join in for the first time. The call includes a message for young people by Chiara Lubich, and a sharing of experiences from some of the world’s most distressed areas. Here is a quick overview of some of the projects launched in United World Week: Asia The Philippines Manila – Dare to love. A series of activities at the Bukas Palad social centre, to collect funds for the education of children and the social development of families. 
On October 20, “U-nite” (Unite + Youth at night) an event of music, experiences and fraternity. On October 22, the “Step Up” concert, with a band from Youth for a United World, and other Philippine acts. Africa Congo In Lubumbashi, 2000 km from Kinshasa, Youth for a United World will visit the children and teenagers in an orphanage. 
They will play, sing and dance with the children, and share what motivates them. On October 18-19 they will work with other young people in the diocese to build several classrooms, and to tidy up the grounds of the basilica. America Venezuela Caracas: A concert at the Simon Bolivar University will get the week underway. That will be followed by forums on non-violence, and fraternity in politics. Europe Ireland Dublin, October 13. “Intercultural Exchange”. Brazilian samba, Chinese dragon dancing, martial arts, and Irish humour. These and much more at the multicultural fair at University College Dublin. The objective of the day is to celebrate the best aspects of the national groups of which Ireland, an increasingly multicultural country, is now composed. Part of “Intercultural Exchange” will be a workshop on workers and tenants legal rights. www.cinews.ie
“Put aside your own ideas, preconceptions and political convictions and learn again to respect your neighbour”. A style of politics which brings together peace and justice, and the common good is the only way to meet the aspirations and expectations of young people. Laurent Moesching, a 22 year old student and president of the 14-strong committee behind the event, welcomed on their behalf the challenge laid down in a message from Chiara Lubich, who began the Movement for Unity in Politics (Focolare). “If you have the courage to listen and to work in common, a new style of political life will emerge”, she wrote. This is an approach eagerly awaited by young people, something evident from the lively dialogue and exchange of experiences with the politicians present at Martigny on August 25 and 26 2007. There were 300 participants, including 100 young people and politicians involved at national, canton, and local level. A moving experience from the Middle East: “Hand in Hand”. This demonstrated how listening and working together are possible even in situations of deep conflict. Sonia Chason and Nebal Bakoey described their involvement in the project, “Hand in Hand” in Jerusalem, a school based on the idea that both Arab and Israeli cultures have important values. Each class has an Arab and an Israeli teacher who prepare the programmes of the courses. Nebal Bakoey explained, “Respect is fundamental to all our relationships. This does not mean that we always have the same opinion, but we give importance to the things we discover together”. 
The weakest pillar is the most important one. In the main talk, Lucia Fronza Crepaz, president of the MppU (Movement for Unity in Politics) at the international level, presented universal fraternity as the “best category for the inspiration of political action”, and the basis for civil life in a multicultural society, using a striking image. “To test the strength of a bridge, it is important to assess the strength of the weakest column, not the strongest”. The weakest members of our society must have priority, “not out of pity”, she added, “but because the poor, when left to themselves, have no voice in democratic systems” Pop music after the talks. Politics-party: that is how this meeting was announced. After the politics, came the party. The talks gave way to pop music, and debates gave way to dance. The organization was in the hands of young people, and the symbiosis between politics and “party” was a great success.
Over 500 people are dead, 1600 injured and 20,000 homeless families. The damage to property is impossible to assess. This was the initial assessment of the effects of the earthquake that shook the cities of Pisco, Chincha, Ica and Canete on August 15, 300 km south of the capital, Lima. Members of the community of the Focolare Movement in Peru wrote the following: “The cities look like war zones. Thousands of families have lost everything: close relatives, homes, food, work… A huge wave of solidarity began throughout the country. Thousands of people come to help the stricken population, donating food, medicine, blankets (it is the middle of winter in Peru). Towns, and associations and businesses have collected tons of humanitarian aid. We have begun work together with organisations like the Red Cross and other NGOs, in order to concentrate our efforts and make what we do more effective. In our houses there is a constant stream of people, those we know and others we don’t, bringing clothing, food, and medicines. The families of the Movement, with their children, have joined an aid project, filling canvas bags with a little jacket, a hat, a book, a soft toy, coloured pencils, a drawing pad, stickers, and a greeting card to a small friend in the affected area. The children are very happy to be able to contribute. The project now involves many children, and thousands of bags will be distributed on September 1 and 2.” AMU (Action for a united world), an NGO of the Focolare Movement, and recognised by the Italian Foreign Ministry, has sent an initial contribution of 7000 dollars for the most urgent needs, and has launched a campaign for funds to ensure continuity of aid in the near future after the emergency phase has passed, for rebuilding homes and finding work to support families If you wish to contribute to the action of solidarity for Peru, you can send your contribution marked “Emergenza Peru” to one of the following accounts: Associazione “Azione per un Mondo Unito – Onlus” Via Frascati 342 – 00040 Rocca di Papa (Roma) Postcode 81065005 or Account number 000000120434, Banca Popolare Etica – Filiale di Roma CIN G – ABI 05018 – CAB 03200 IBAN coordinates: IT16 G050 1803 2000 0000 0120 434 BIC (swift) code : CCRTIT2184D
Above all, Chiara Lubich underlined his “decisive role”, carried out during the course of building communion among movements and communities of various Churches. This has been witnessed by the numerous rappresentatives of Evangelical and Catholic communities and movements present at the funeral celebration and by the messages, among which those of Saint Egidio’s Community and Schoenstatt Movement. That journey of communion had started in 1999, and resulted in the big manifestations entitled “Together for Europe”, which have been held in Stuttgart (Germany) in 2004 and last May, in order to contribute in giving a soul to the continent and overcome conflicts and barriers. Already in the 1960’s, there had been a first meeting between Chiara and Helmut. Let us quote Chiara Lubich’s entire message: “I saw Helmut Nicklas again after many years, in 1999 in Ottmaring, together with a number of leaders of Evangelical Lutheran Movements. It was then that a communion began among Movements of different Churches. Ever since then, this journey, in which we participate, has seen various stages all over Europe and beyond, with great, historic developments in the People of God. And Helmut always had a decisive role in the different stages of this journey of communion. 
In St. Matthew’s church on December 8, 2001, there was an exchange of spiritual gifts that we recall as being very important. After my talk on mutual love, Helmut invited the 800 leaders of different Movements present to make a “pact of mutual love” (Jn 13:34). This pact, renewed on many occasions, is considered to be the foundation of the communion among Movements and will accompany its journey also in the future. Helmut was truly a charismatic person because of his capacity to listen to the voice of God and to follow it in a total way. This capacity gave him vision and filled him with a passion for unity. He was one who served the communion among Movements, one who – as he himself said – must be capable of forgetting about him or herself and the interests of one’s community, and serving others. He gave us an example of this. All of us of the Focolare Movement will always carry Helmut Nicklas in our hearts, beloved friend and true brother.” During the illness, Chiara had kept continuous contact with him through the Focolare members in Germany. Two days before his death, Helmut gave a sort of last testament concerning the communion among movements to Severin Schmid, who had visited him at the clinic in Munich, where he was being hospitalized. This is what he said: “We have lived historical moments. They are like beacons that will also indicate the way for the future. We should remain faithful to all that God has made us live. We should narrate this story.” Helmut Nicklas was one of the two delegates of the German Evangelical Church, invited for the International Congress that preceded the great meeting of the movements and new communities with Pope Benedict XVI, on the eve of Pentecoste 2006. In answering to a question regarding what unites Evangelical and Catholic movements and communities, during an interview with Zenit agency, Helmut Nicklas had answered as follows: “It is the strong conviction that today’s men and women need Jesus Christ that unites us to Catholic movements”.