“Let our cities live again”

 “Let our cities live again” is the motto of the relay race entitled ‘Run4unity.’ Boys and girls of different languages, cultures and religions have fixed an appointment from 11 to 12 a.m. on Sunday, October 9, in the most important places of their respective countries to ask that universal brotherhood become a reality as soon as possible.

The worldwide event is a day dedicated to sports as a way of bearing common witness to building a united world. It involves a number of cities and has for its guideline the Gospel’s ‘Golden Rule’: “Do unto others what you would have others do unto you,” which is present also in the sacred books of the main religions of the world. By walking, running, on skates or on bicycle, the participants all over the world have set as their goal those places where there is tension or which are recognized as landmarks of peace. They will also pass by headquarters of local and international institutions. In Rome the relay race will conclude at St. Peter’s Square with the hope of having a word of greeting from the Pope during the Angelus.

Countries of the Northern and Southern hemispheres will offer a sharing of goods by giving the participants the chance to donate thingsthey own, which will then be distributed to the disadvantaged young people in their respective cities or to maintain scholarships for youth in war-torn or poverty-stricken countries.

There will be radio updates in streaming and telephone link-ups in real time from 11 p.m. (Italian time) of Saturday, October 8 to 11 p.m. (Italian time) of Sunday, October 9 with Noumea (New Caledonia), Coimbatore (India), Jerusalem (Israel), Fontem (Cameroon), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Sao Paulo (Brazil), New York (USA). From October 10 to 16, the boys and girls participating will pass the race on to the youth of the Focolare Movement who will celebrate the World Unity Week (www.mondounito.net), a worldwide appointment which includes round table forums, demonstrations, cultural evenings and activities on the subject of peace and unity in all levels of society, with the aim of rendering public opinion and institutions more sensitive to the ideal of a united world and to generating universal brotherhood among all.