Dialogue between religions

Interreligious dialogue in the Focolare Movement is based on the spirituality of unity that animates it, especially on the centrality of love, which can also be found in the various religions.

Congress with Muslim Friends in Algeria (1993)

Chiara Lubich with the Jewish community in Buenos Aires (1998). Below: with W.D. Mohammad of the Muslim community in Washington (2000)

The first insight into this dialogue came in the 1960s, during a meeting with the Bangwa tribe in Cameroon, when Chiara Lubich perceived that God’s love embraces all people without distinction and that the Movement would also include people from non-Christian traditions. During those years, a Focolare community was established in Algeria, where several Muslims welcomed the spirit of the Movement and committed themselves to spreading it in their own circles, giving rise to a unique witness of dialogue that generates relationships of true fraternity.

The awarding of the Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion to Chiara Lubich in 1977 marked the official beginning of interreligious dialogue for the Focolare Movement. This was followed by meetings between Chiara and leaders of various religions, which opened new avenues of friendship and collaboration with their followers.

Over the years, through the International Centre for Interreligious Dialogue and thanks to the commitment of the Movement’s members in many countries, deep relationships have developed with believers of various religions and numerous religious institutions. Together, they discover diversity as a gift and promote the deepest human values, in a shared journey of fraternity in support of the common good and of peace.

Today, thousands of Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, followers of traditional religions, as well as Shintoists, Taoists, Sikhs and Baha’is share, as much as possible, the spirit of the Movement, bearing witness that they belong to one human family, with full respect for the identity of each faith.

Numerous initiatives and activities have been carried out, which include collaboration among people and within society, conferences, symposiums, formation courses, opportunities for in-depth study and sharing of spiritual experiences and academic research. All this in support of the common call to universal fraternity.

Castel Gandolfo, 2024: meeting with collaborators of the Focolare Movement from various religions.