For Chiara Lubich politics was actually a vocation, “a personal calling that emerges from external circumstances and speaks through the conscience.” Answering to this vocation “is first and foremost an act of brotherhood: it acts in favour of something public, something concerning others, desiring the good of others as if it were one’s own.” Such an act, which creates the conditions for “an ongoing relationship with every sphere of life” – economy, health, communication, art, justice administration, and so on – sets the conditions so that society can fulfill its purpose.”

The global event will include a variety of local events across the globe, all of which will highlight the ideals of Chiara Lubich’s charism as it relates to politics, through stories of personal change and involvement in public affairs, raninge from addressing problems at the district, national and international levels. It will be an opportunity to welcome with renewed awareness the “dream” that inspired the life and thought of Chiara Lubich: “universal brotherhood.”

Italy. A meeting is scheduled on March 12, 2015 at the Parliament in Rome. In the morning, 300 young people of the Focolare from around the world will meet in the Auletta dei Gruppi of the Italian Parliament, for an open dialogue with politicians, scholars and representatives of international institutions. In the afternoon, the “Chiara Lubich: Unity and Politics” event will be held in the same Hall.

France. On March 13-15, 2015 at the Headquarters of the Council of Europe, in Strasbourg, a seminar titled: «Fraternité en politique: s’investir autrement dans la cité», an invitation to discover new paths that favour living together.

Canada. On March 13, 2015 a debate will be held at Glendon College of the York University of Toronto, titled: “Politics for Unity. Making a World of Difference.” Brazil. In Curitiba, the «Política pela unidade, fazendo toda a diferença no mundo» will explore how doing politics in function of unity, makes the difference. South Korea. On March 14, 2015, at the Parliament which in the past was a theatre of fierce fighting, “On the journey towards universal brotherhood.” Events will also be held in Nairobi, Kenya, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Madrid, Spain, Budapest Hungary, Prague, Czech Republic, and more. An online map of events and further information can be found at: www.politicsforunity.com. To join the online discussion the hashtag is: #politics4unity.

Reflection on the theme “Chiara Lubich: Unity and Politics” in the plurality of cultural and geographical areas will be an opportunity to further explore the heritage left to history by Chiara, whose Cause of Beatification was opened on January 27, 2015.