Can religious leaders be partners on the pathway towards peace?

“Without brotherhood there is no peace”

On the surface, religious pluralism, seems to be a source of division and war. In reality religious pluralism is- Chiara Lubich said in her address -a challenge: all religions are called to work together to re-established the unity of the human family, because in all religions “the Holy Spirit is present and active in some way”.

The phenomenon of terrorism, which cannot be fought with conventional means, shows that religions can make a significant contribution for reaching peace. “The root cause of terrorism” is

“grievous suffering” in a world where the gap between rich and poor continues to widen, Chiara Lubich emphasised. There is a great need for more equality, more solidarity, and above all for a more equal distribution of goods. “But, as we know, goods do not move by themselves: we need to first move people’s hearts.” “From whom, if not from the great religious traditions, could there begin a strategy of brotherhood capable of marking a complete turnabout even in international relations?”. In fact without brotherhood- Chiara affirmed -there is no peace.

Without losing one’s identity

The idea of unity and love is rooted in all religions: “In practice, this means that we are partners on the road to brotherhood and peace.” Chiara underlined that persons of great religious traditions of humanity can meet and understand one another without losing one’s identity.

The founder of the Focolare Movement indicated the way of love as the principle means for reaching understanding. “If we begin to dialogue with one another, if we are therefore open with one another in a spirit of good faith, of reciprocal esteem, of respect, of mercy, we are then open to allowing God – as John Paul II once said – to be present amongst us.”

Chiara Lubich expressed conviction that it is really with the presence of God that we can find viable solutions to the present problems.

The secret of dialogue

The Focolare Movement has a wealth of experience in interreligious dialogue: “In an atmosphere of reciprocal love it is possible to establish dialogue with one’s partners.

In this dialogue one tries to empty oneself in order to ‘enter’ the other. This ‘making ourselves one with the other,’ Chiara indicated, is the secret for establishing that dialogue that leads to unity. It requires true poverty of spirit: “We need to empty our heads of our notions, to free our hearts of our affections, and our will of its inclinations” in order to be at one with the persons before us and truly understand them. The other remains touched by such an attitude and he or she starts to ask about it (such is Chiara’s experience).

“And so we could pass on to a ‘respectful announcement’, and, out of loyalty to God and to ourselves and also in all honesty to our neighbour, explain what our faith upholds regarding a given topic without imposing anything on the other, without intending to convert the other, but simply out of love. It is the moment when, for us Christians, dialogue leads to the announcement of the Good News.”

A great simplicity

Afterwards, Cornelio Sommaruga, president of “Initiatives of change”, underscored the “extreme simplicity” with which Chiara Lubich shares her message of love. Rajmohan Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi’ grandson, professor at the University of New Delhi, and co- promoter of the seminar, added: “This woman reaches people’s hearts. Not with a loud voice, as many others do, or a forceful manner, but with softness and passion. The interreligious dialogue promoted by Miss Lubich is of great importance, especially in our times”. Rabbi Marc Raphael Guedj, founder of “Racine et Source” (Root and Source) spoke of being very impressed by Chiara, a person who speaks of love by being love, wisdom, the wisdom of daily life,… love that transforms the world”.

by Beatrix Ledergerber-Baumer for KIPA agency, 3 agosto 2003 (our translation)