Franz Kronreif and Claretta Dal Rì are in Paris representing the Focolare Movement a week before another much awaited event: “Humanism, dialogue, fraternity– Chiara Lubich’s legacy”.

Sorbonne University, the Academie Française and UNESCO are hosts of the international convention that officially inaugurates “The Court of the Gentiles”. The idea for this permanent centre for exchange between members of the world’s religions and those with no religious affiliation came directly from Benedict XVI.

Dialogue between believers and non-believers was launched by the Vatican within the Pontifical Council for Culture.

The centre’s name took it’s inspiration from the space in the ancient Temple of Jerusalem where non-Jews, members of other religions and agnostics gathered.

The new centre is already up and running and has had its first meeting organised by the University of Bologna for dialogue among lay people. The “Court of Gentiles” is not a place for institutional debates, nor is it an attempt to create a common doctrine: it’s a space for dialogue.

Paris, emblem of secularisation, hosts the event. This new Vatican initiative aims at fostering an open exchange between believers and non-believers on issues relating to faith. “Dialogue implies exchange on rigorous issues; it must respect identity and avoid syncretism and vague corcordisms”, Mons. Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, explains.

Many well-known intellectuals and public figures have already shown support for this project characterised by respect, openness to everyone and a spirit of full freedom.  Representing the Focolare for the inauguration in Paris are Claretta Dal Rì and Franz Kronreif, directors at the Movement’s international centre for dialogue with people of no religious affiliation.

This Parisian event takes place in the midst of preparations for another important meeting for believers and non-believers united by the ideal of universal brotherhood: “Humanism, dialogue, fraternity– Chiara Lubich’s legacy” will take place in Castel Gandolfo from 1^st– 3^rd April with international participation.

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