Visit to Eastern Europe

The trip will take place over three stages:

• 13^th -19^th May: Russia (Moscow)
• 19^th – 25^th May: Czech Republic (Prague)
• 25^th – 31^st May: Hungary (Budapest)

Maria Voce will visit the Focolare Communities in each country. In Moscow she will hold meetings of particular significance with the bishop Mons. Paolo Pezzi as well as with the Apostolic Nuncio Mons. Ivan Jurkovic.

In Prague the Focolare President will meet Archbishop Mons. Dominik Duka.

On May 21^st there will be an event to commemorate 10 years since Chiara Lubich’s visit and the foundation of Operation “Golden Prague”: a project launched by Chiara in view of the ‘new evangelization’.

The Focolare Movement has been present in the ex-communist bloc since 1961.

In July 1960 the Bishop of Lipsia Mons. Otto Spulbek offered Chiara Lubich the possibility to send focolarini men and women who work as doctors to the hospitals in his diocese as a response to the lack of medical professionals in the region.

Exactly 50 years ago on 13^th May 1961 the first focolarini arrived in Lipsia. From Eastern Germany, thanks to personal contacts, the Movement spread immediately to Czechoslovakia, Russia, Lithuania and other countries of the communist bloc. Currently, the Focolare Movement is present in all the countries of the region.