«The country is undergoing a very difficult period. In fact a police contingent sent to arrest some terrorist suspects, was attacked by the fighters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and 44 policemen were killed. The Parliament was just deliberating on the new peace treaty between the government and Muslims of Mindanao, with extensive grants in many fields. However, these were blocked and yesterday a video networkshowed the video of a wounded policeman who was repeatedly beaten to death by a militant of the Front. The indignation of the people was unimaginable!» wrote Carlo and Ding from Manila. Oscar works instead in the government’s Communications Office which therefore had to report on the event. It was not an easy task for one like him who is daily committed to living the spirituality of unity with everyone. «In my job – he wrote– I have to oversee all that happens in the Social Media. This morning I saw the video of our SAF people (policemen) killed by the Muslim rebels. I was very shocked on seeing a policeman on the ground, wounded but still alive, being hit twice on the head and another gutted out with a sickle in his chest… It was terrible, almost surreal, and I couldn’t breathe. The video also showed the rebels gather the arms and personal effects of the policemen and then continued to shoot. It was so hard to think of peace while I was watching those images. I wanted to react, do something. I was almost in tears. Then, watching the sessions of Parliament regarding the event. Some tried to blame a general for his imprecise instruction, and others accused other officers for lack of coordination. Once again I thought, how can we talk of peace? The video on the internet has already been viewed by at least four million people. Part of my work consists in seeing the possible scenarios of a way out. So I ask myself what could be the worst scenario, and I felt fear. I imagine that after seeing those images, many could be overcome by anger and seek revenge. They could see in every Muslim a possible aggressor and turn against him. “And what if a civil revolt is triggered?” I wondered. In the office, as can be imagined, my colleagues were highly emotive. I tried to listen to what God was saying to me in my heart: “More than ever we have to speak of peace. If those among us who have a better view of the situation feel these sentiments of revenge, how will the more emotive and less informed people react?” One of my colleagues suddenly said: “Peace is unpronounceable at this moment. We have to focus on the unity of all the Filipinos, beyond every religious creed. And another said “What happened was an act of violent men who cannot be identified with the entire Muslim community.” Slowly, the anger began to die down. We also remembered what a Mindanao deputy had said: “We are easily angered and influenced by our emotions, because we have not seen with our own eyes the effects a war at our doorstep would have. War is not the answer.” I was pleasantly surprised and left the meeting with a sort of peace inside. In these times, more than anything else, I think we have to work together to bring the ideal of unity to as many people as possible. The menace of war is real. The menace of our compatriots who are angry with our Muslim brothers is real. But the Gospel shows us the path of dialogue and peace. Tomorrow will be a new day for me, another day of listening to many conversations online. I will have the chance to build relationships based on trust and peace. »
“It’s 7:00 in the morning of 28 April at the central station. A day and place that the students of Campus will never forget. Something unexpected is about to happen and… they have to make their choice: this is the moment!” A scene of great emotive and theatrical impact opens CAMPUS, the new musical of Gen Rosso, in a preview on 14 and 15 March 2015 in Loppiano, at the International Centre’s Auditorium. The first world Tour will start in Naples on 28 and 29 March 2015 at the Mediterraneo Mostra d’Oltremare Theatre.Prompted by an original idea of Chiara Lubich, the work in fact is drawn from real events and staged after 10 years of thematic and artistic research. The campus is like the cities we live in Valerio Ciprì says: «It immediately appeared to me that the campus environment is really a metaphor of the daily life co-existence of our globalised cities. Today cities are the settings of dramatic contradictions that range from decline to delinquency, drug addiction to corruption, and places of redemption in which citizens repossess their space for solidarity and humanity. This is precisely the message Campus conveys: we cannot build a united society by annulling our differences, but by facing the challenges and rolling up our sleeves to create authentic relationships. Against the background of an era, our present time, marked by the drama of fear and terrorism, the stories of a group of students unravel on stage, each with his dreams and projects for the future, and a present heavily burdened with wounds, anguish and queries.» A daring show, amid engaging sounds and pressing issues The musical is composed of 23 pieces, choreographic transitions interacting with film sequences, theatre actions and movement. «The artistic project is the result of the team work of international professionals» – Beni Enderle explains. «The sounds are forceful and rich in style contaminations and harmonic inter-wefts, with melodies that range from the buoyancy of Latin atmospheres to the pathos of Afro rhythms, in a synthesis of forceful and captivating sounds.» «As we delve deeper into the story and the atmosphere of the show – Josè Manuel Garcia continues – one feels the onset of a global reality that emerges from a narrative layout that goes straight into the heart of contemporary challenges, within an original and strictly live sound track that covers the rhythms and sounds of Rock, Pop, Reggae, Samba-axe, Contemporary electronic, Hip-hop and up to Dubstep…». The stage scenery is avant garde. Jean Paul Carradori says: «I have worked in many international productions. Campus for me was an unexpected challenge due to its strong drama and theatrical layout. We had to create a setting that highlights the contents and at the same time leads the spectator to immerse into the story. » Produced by the Gen Rosso International Performing Arts Group (16 artists from 9 nations) in an innovative, artistic, technical, directive and managerial work methodology, the Musical is the fruit of the convergence and synergy of an international team. Pre-sales tickets: CLICK HERE (tel.055 9051102 – mail genrosso.campus@loppiano.it) On-line: tickets can be bought on the Internet at: concerto 14/03 – concerto 15/03Download the poster
“Remember, Luigino, I created the EoC for the poor. You do well to study, but always remember the poor.” Chiara Lubich repeated these words to me many times in the ten years in which I joined her in the international commission, to coordinate the EoC.
To redeem people from the poverty they suffer (quite different from the poverty they choose) continues to be the ultimate goal of the project, the meaning of our actions. As long as there are people on earth who cannot have a decent existence for lack of resources, no economic and social system can be defined as just, and much less as being one of communion.
The types of poverty loved and alleviated by the EoC in these 23 years of life have diversified and expanded. From the favelas of São Paulo and Brazil, we immediately passed on to the favelas of many cities; then we realized, through the tenacious action of entrepreneurs like Paco Toro (Spain) that to reduce poverty we could create jobs and together with the NGO called Azione Mondo Unito (AMU; Action for a United World) we started to support the development of micro production activities in various countries of the world. Finally, we observed that the present crisis had brought back old and new types of poverty into our rich Europe, too. Among these types there is the plague of gamble, which is devastating hundreds of thousands of families, especially the poorer ones. Hence the commitment of the EoC Italy to support the Slotmob campaign, which has taken place in more than 70 cities in just one year and is changing the mentality of many people.
Furthermore, in recent years, the EoC has been spreading especially on the African continent, where the number of companies that this year have started to pay profits to support the world’s poor rose to 10, while 12 others have approached the project; there are several scholarships offered to young Africans, some of whom diligently attend the Sophia University Institute.
So, feeling attracted by this new and flourishing way of life, as an expression of reciprocity, we chose Nairobi, Kenya, to be the venue of our international congress, four years after the one that was held in Brazil in 2011.
We will be in that great city from 27 to 31 May and from 22 to 26 May for the first Pan-African school for young people that will also take place there. A continent that is still suffering too much because of predatory relations that many industrialized countries have had and continue to have with it (before forgetting it and then isolating it), when feeling the danger of infection, Africa is destined to be the main protagonist of the economy and society of tomorrow.
Africa’s love of life, its youth, its ancient cultures, all these say it already in a powerful way. The EoC wants to go to Africa to love it, to learn from its culture of life, to practice communion and reciprocity. And to construct a new development model and a new economy. But we want to do this together, and in mutual esteem. At the feast of the peoples.
“In a rational world the writer should be located at the center of social life, as the one who directs and plays the spirit of the people. But the world is only partly ruled by rationality, in many ways is governed by instinct, by irrational passions such as fear. Writers become popular inasmuch as they discern and perhaps aggravate the instincts of the masses.
Today, on the one hand, technology reigns, mechanics, sports and cinema; on the other demagoguery, profiteering and politics first. If writers don’t want to see themselves reduced to a marginal function, they feel that they must serve material interests or interests marked by passion. They feel compelled to produce a journalism that often is necessarily subservient because of the huge cost to industrial groups, political parties, ideologies and profitable professions. Freedom of the press decreases because the free press is weakened under financial pressure, and the freedom of the writer is weakened. This helps explain the decline of what are considered great writers, and why more than one has switched to work in the political arena or sought out other areas of interest.
If the decline of rationality in people did produce the weakening of writing and writers shrinking to the margins, it is also true that it was the spiritual, moral and intellectual decadence of writers that distanced readers. The truth is that writers are both the cause and effect of their social environment. They need to be more the cause or less the effect. If they were what they should be –teachers or, I would even say, apostles or prophets – the people would either follow them or flay them. In short, they would show a lively interest in the manifestations of their spirit. The writer’s place is on the edge, the edge of discovery, the edge of risk. In fact, in order to carry out their apostolic mission of educating and raising the public, writers are likely to face poverty and misunderstanding.
The position of a writer is relative to the value of his or her message, and to its artistic strength and the manner in which it is expressed. In a world where technology and organization, planning and centralization, gregariousness and the fatigue of freedom have overtaken the human soul, overloading it with noise and commands, a free writer who contributes to spiritual liberation— the redemption of human beings— helping to overcome the large and small “failures” of the external and internal world, plays a greater role than that of the statesmen who are more popular.
In a world worn out by divisions and trembling with hatred and fear, one word of brotherhood and humanity, of charity therefore, spoken with clarity, beauty, and power would seal the gratitude of the people toward its author, conferring on him or her a central role in the orbit of civilization.
Igino Giordani: (Rome: Il compito dello scrittore, La Via, February 2,1952) p. 3.
“Our daughter, after a painful delusion (her breaking off with her boyfriend), came to live with us with her baby girl. She is often bitter and aggressive. One morning, for a trifle matter she mistreated me and her brothers, and shouting, left for work, slamming the door. I was really hurt and I felt she had simply gone over the limit and that we really did not deserve all this. I asked myself how I could let her see that I loved her. I prepared a special feast-day lunch with a cake, and set the table with the nicest tablecloth… When she returned, I greeted her as if nothing had happened. She smiled and I felt that I had not only forgiven her, but also forgotten the event. Harmony was reestablished among us.”
“Last Saturday, my parents and I were about to close our grocery shop when two hooded characters came inside and ordered us to open the safe. Dad thought it was the usual robbery at gunpoint with a toy gun, and asked them to leave. Instead, the gun fired a shot which wounded him, though not seriously. After the bandits escaped, in a split second I remembered the group of people who, in another part of Sicily help the youth in the high risk districts of their city. So with my friends, I decided to do something myself to stop some other kids from getting involved with gangsters. Though a bit hesitant, I started going to an area of the city having highly delinquent residents, and once I found out what the real problems were in that district, I talked to the local administrators and the families of some police officers who had been killed. We formed a group to testify to people, especially the youth, that a better and nonviolent world is possible. That Saturday has changed my life.”
“I was 12 when my parents separated. It was a painful thing, and particularly one detail did not leave me in peace: I could not forgive my dad for leaving us to form another family. Initially, when he would call, I didn’t even want to talk to him. Then one day, I asked Jesus for help, and found the courage to show him that I did not hold it against him. On father’s day I tried to show this concretely by preparing a gift. When he saw it, I saw that he was deeply moved. He then confided that apart from the rest, the most important things for him were his children. From that moment on, I felt I had opened my heart to him once more. Much later, knowing that he was lonely, I spontaneously started to talk to him about God who loves each one of us immensely. It assured him and he expressed the desire to know more about this topic. The experience with dad is helping me to see that we all make mistakes, but that each person must be given the chance to rise up again.”
«Bishop Giovanni Martinelli is a little giant. A brave person who, despite the serious health problems besetting him for two years now, continues to “doggedly” stay on in his Libya, and with love take care of his sheep, now just a handful of Filipinos working in the hospitals as nurses and who “cannot” leave the country.
He started by saying, “I have nothing special to say – we have become orphans of the ambassador who has left. But I repeat, I have nothing to say; we are here because Jesus wants us here. I am at the service of this population, and not for any kind of power.”
How about the Catholic community? The Christian communities are still here, we are fine.”
Are you serene? “We have just celebrated Mass. God is with us, what should we fear?”
Is also Fr. Sylvester still in Bengasi? “Of course – Bishop Martinelli answered – also he says that we can stay on to be close to the people who are suffering so much.”
What do you forecast for the future? “It is very hard to make a forecast, or rather, it would be better not to since we had forecasted events that did not come about. We live day by day, or rather, moment after moment. The present moment embraces all. In that moment I encounter Jesus, my brothers, and love these people.”
What’s the situation like in Tripoli? “It seems to be quite calm, they haven’t prohibited anything. The atmosphere is serene and pacific. It is not dangerous to move around during the day. Of course we stay home in the evenings.”
Afraid? “For the moment we haven’t been threatened directly. Let’s see how things develop. They may behead us… but I am willing to deliver it on a plate, since I am here to die for my people.”
What role do you think Italy can play in this situation? “Italy has been very involved, especially the Ambassador, to keep the channels for dialogue open between the different tribes and factions. As of now Italy has taken up a propaganda for peace.”
And what about a foreign intervention? “I don’t think this is a solution.”
In 2011, when there were winds of war, you said that if this happened, Libya would risk the explosion of tribal and political divisions. Unfortunately the Europeans seemed to be certain that elective democracy would positively contaminate the country… “Prudence would have been advisable, then and now. International diplomacy should do its part to allow various pieces of Libya to assemble. We shouldn’t impose political visions that do not belong to these people.”
He then concluded: “If one comes here only with arms and without a strong will to dialogue, it would be useless. You have to come here to love the people, not to target the interests of the western world, or exploit the petrol and other resources. One must come only if pushed by the desire to dialogue with the Muslims. I am here for this, and not for anything else.»
The group of 80 young Christians and Muslims. The topic: multiculturalism, religious diversity and dialogue. The question: Do you care? The format: to “Regenerate,” with two days at Hertfordshire, in a relaxed atmosphere where even burning issues were able to be discussed. The protagonists were young people from the Focolare Movement in Great Britain and Ireland and, this year, a group from the Islamic Unity Society with whom there has been growing friendship and mutual esteem, several projects, study sessions and planting peace trees. Participants listened directly to the experience of Dr Mohammad Ali Shomali, Director of the Islamic Centre of England, who spoke in video conference from Paris. He encouraged the group to “encourage opportunities of dialogue with everyone: dialogue is what characterises us as human beings. Accepting to dialogue with anyone who is different from us does not diminish us, but makes us more true to ourselves.” The honoured guest was Angela Graham who worked at BBC. Raised in Northern Ireland, she began from her own experience as she encouraged the young people to become “people of dialogue” within their own environments, trying to build bridges with people of other cultures and faiths. During the weekend of February 14-15, 2015 at the Focolare Centre for Unity which welcomed them in Welwyn Garden City there were workshops on the various topics: from interreligious dialogue to the social media; from politics to social commitment. “It’s quite striking to experience here people who are so passionate about living and working with God,” said Mohammed Mozaffari, one of the young Muslim men from the Islamic Unity Society. Lucia, from the Young for Unity group remarked: “The differences are not an obstacle, but an aid for building something together.” “Even those who had difficulty in identifying with a formal religion felt quite at ease, and builders like the rest of us,” say Nino and Mil who were among the organisers of the event. The event did not go unnoticed by civil leaders. Town Councilman, Michal Siewniak, stated: “It is encouraging to see young adults from different cultural and religious backgrounds becoming mutually involved in dialogue, and together looking for answers on how to live in harmony within a multicultural and multi-religious society.”
“The life and ideas of Chiara Lubich have introduced a radical novelty that totally surpasses the concept of power as dominion. The idea of power seen as the solitary peak of a pyramid is always present and dominant at times: we often tend to think that one man alone in command, with a clear vision and the strength to impose it is the best and more reassuring solution […]. Chiara has always had a great and absolute respect for power […]. At the same time, her relationships with people at the top of the civil hierarchical ladder (heads of states and governments, presidents of European institutions) or religious (popes, patriarchs…) never showed any sign of servitude. On the contrary, her respect for authority was expressed in a creative way, by offering ideas and suggestions in an attitude of dialogue and stimulus, and placing herself and the resources of the Focolare Movement at the disposition of projects for the benefit of society, especially the poor.
Co-responsibility. Upon exercising power within the Movement she had founded, Chiara set the basis […] for a collective management of responsibility, in line with the spirituality of communion, typical of her charism. At the presidency of the movement, especially for juridical motives, there is only one person, and Chiara wanted this person to be a woman, taking as the model, Mary, the mother of Jesus, who did not have any power except for that of love […]. This is one of the key concepts of Chiara’s charism: the hierarchy exists, and its role is irreplaceable, but stands in the background; what emerges is that we all are first and foremost, brothers and sisters, children of an only God who is love […]. And all of us learn from the example of Jesus, the sole and real master.
Collective leadership. I had the chance to personally see the way Chiara exercised her role of leader when in Stuttgart, 2004 and 2007 we prepared the two meetings of the movement and Christian communities of different Churches […]. I was struck by the way in which she gave room to each one, his ideas and questions. It was as if she was listening to a word God could have pronounced through the words of one of the participants. […]. She took each word seriously and asked the entire group to make their common decision, a true example of collective leadership in action […].
Exercising one’s own role and making room for the other. This was the essence of Chiara’s concept of power, as likewise the contrasting features: the person who holds a position of power has to fully exercise this role (being), and at the same time totally make room for the other, including the subordinates (nonbeing). Likewise, whatever their role and position in the hierarchical ladder, all give their own indispensable contribution (being) and in donating it, lose it since they cannot impose it (nonbeing). This dynamics creates communion, unity in diversity. In fact, for Chiara unity is never static, or something which cancels the components, but is new and surprising each time, because always in vital movement, it is an image of God and the relationship of love among the persons of the Trinity […].
Resolving conflicts together. A practical example of the power exercised as love, in Chiara’s view, is the management and resolution of conflicts. In face of a conflict there are different options: avoid the difficulties of facing it, letting the head decide for all, or else, undertake a journey together with all those involved in the conflict. It would be a long and probably painful journey to face the conflict and emerge with a solution, not with an individual decision, but through a group experience. This solution is not handed down either from the top or given from below, but is the result of a common effort in which each gives his version of truth, in order to reach a common solution.”
The infinitely small and infinitely big that interact to explain the universe, the application of discoveries such as the Higgs boson, in the medical, technological and social fields. Fabiola Gianotti, the next director of the CERN (European Nuclear Research Centre.) of Geneva, spoke about this on 15 February in Loppiano, before an audience of 800 people among which were scientists, enthusiasts of the scientific world, artists, friends, families and about 200 secondary school students.
In short, it seems that science has once again become fashionable in 2015, year in which people are still beset by the economic crisis, but are likewise in search of “infinite spaces that re-focus on what we are, our dignity, and mission in life,» one of those in the audience said. The merit certainly goes to scientists like Gianotti, but also to events like the awarding of the Prize, “Renata Borlone, woman of dialogue.” It was an event of great educational values, where faith and culture intertwined to bring about moments of personal and social growth.
Dr. Giannotti received innumerable messages of congratulations, among which was that from Maria Voce: «The Renata Borlone Cultural Association and Sophia University Institute (IUS) join in the general acclaim, underlining in a particular way, the values that inspire Dr. Giannotti’s life as a woman and scientist.» The Focolare President stressed “the kinship of ideals and objectives of these two figures” (Gianotti and Borlone), though in diverse fields.
«The Higgs boson is considered as the site that gives rise to all the mass of particles in the universe – affirmed Lida Ciccarelli, postulator of the cause for the beatification of Renata Borlone – Renata too was fascinated, not only by science but by all that regards humanity, and had found that site, that field which had given meaning to her life and her daily existence: God. And just as the scientist moves to lift the veil of mystery surrounding the world of science – she continued – she had found in God the revelation of the “other” who asks for love, acceptance, comprehension, and sharing of joys and sufferings, with a human heart. She lived in this divine space and those whom she encountered found a renewed dignity in discovering that they are sons of God.»
The Prize’s third edition was intended for scientific research enthusiasts and targets to also promote dialogue with those in the academic field who commit themselves to promoting a culture that respects the dignity of the human person. The reason for the conferment of the prize to Fabiola Gianotti, was read by IUS Prof. Sergio Rondinara: “For her elevated professional qualities, her passion in scientific research and her human capacity in guiding a great number of scientists and researchers involved in the CERN’s ATLAS experiment.”
The prize statue is a work of the Chinese artist, Hung, and represents a miniature of a particle accelerator.
Dr. Giannotti’s speech was an intense and passionate exposition that captivated the audience’s attention, and she conducted them on a virtual tour of the universe of infinitely tiny, elementary particles and especially theHiggs boson, discovered at the end of 2012 thanks to the constant work of 3,000 scientists of 38 countries and the technology of the particle collider LHC (Large Hadron Collider), 27 km long, laid out at 100 meters under the ground between Switzerland and France.
«Some of you may wonder: what is so important about these particles? – the scientist said – in reality this question is intrinsically related to our lives, since if the particles did not have the masses they possess, we would not exist. If the electron did not have a mass, the atoms would not bond together and, therefore, chemistry would not exist and there would be no matter, the way we know it. So we exist also thanks to this Higgs mechanism.» As to the applications of particle collider, she explained that these are widely used in the medical field to cure tumors. Dr. Giannotti concluded that the CERN research investigates fundamental queries on elementary particles and, therefore, on the structure and evolution of the universe, which are vital for their impact on daily life. «But the fundamental knowledge – she concluded – is in itself important because it is one of the irrevocable rights of man – beyond all the concrete applications, and is somewhat like art which is among the highest expressions of man as a knowledgeable being. And so, to negate the absolute importance of these activities would be like degenerating human nature itself.»
«The country is undergoing a very difficult period. In fact a police contingent sent to arrest some terrorist suspects, was attacked by the fighters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and 44 policemen were killed. The Parliament was just deliberating on the new peace treaty between the government and Muslims of Mindanao, with extensive grants in many fields. However, these were blocked and yesterday a video network showed the video of a wounded policeman who was repeatedly beaten to death by a militant of the Front. The indignation of the people was unimaginable!» wrote Carlo and Ding from Manila. Oscar works instead in the government’s Communications Office which therefore had to report on the event. It was not an easy task for one like him who is daily committed to living the spirituality of unity with everyone. «In my job – he wrote– I have to oversee all that happens in the Social Media. This morning I saw the video of our SAF people (policemen) killed by the Muslim rebels. I was very shocked on seeing a policeman on the ground, wounded but still alive, being hit twice on the head and another gutted out with a sickle in his chest… It was terrible, almost surreal, and I couldn’t breathe. The video also showed the rebels gather the arms and personal effects of the policemen and then continued to shoot. It was so hard to think of peace while I was watching those images. I wanted to react, do something. I was almost in tears. Then, watching the sessions of Parliament regarding the event. Some tried to blame a general for his imprecise instruction, and others accused other officers for lack of coordination. Once again I thought, how can we talk of peace? The video on the internet has already been viewed by at least four million people. Part of my work consists in seeing the possible scenarios of a way out. So I ask myself what could be the worst scenario, and I felt fear. I imagine that after seeing those images, many could be overcome by anger and seek revenge. They could see in every Muslim a possible aggressor and turn against him. “And what if a civil revolt is triggered?” I wondered. In the office, as can be imagined, my colleagues were highly emotive. I tried to listen to what God was saying to me in my heart: “More than ever we have to speak of peace. If those among us who have a better view of the situation feel these sentiments of revenge, how will the more emotive and less informed people react?” 
we chose Nairobi, 
