“In order to hold on firmly to your faith, you must choose the Road of Hope followed by the disciples of Christ”. This is one of the 1001 thoughts addressed by the then Archbishop François Xavier Nguyễn Văn Thuận to his faithful during his long years of imprisonment for his faith: a collection of reflections, warnings, and encouragements, later collected in the book “The Road of Hope”, considered the “spiritual testament” of the Vietnamese Cardinal, declared Venerable by Pope Francis.
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the book’s publication, the Cause for Beatification of Cardinal Văn Thuận and the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, which is acting as the promoter of the cause, together with the Dicastery for the Clergy, the Città Nuova Publishing House, and the Diocese of Rome, wish to honor the memory of the Vietnamese Cardinal by celebrating a conference entitled “François Xavier Nguyễn Văn Thuận. Witness of Hope ”.
The event will be held on March 25 in Rome, at the Sala dei Trattati Lateranensi, in the Palazzo Apostolico Lateranense, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Ms. Élisabeth Nguyễn Thị Thu Hồng, sister of Cardinal Văn Thuận, will be present.
Through the testimony of those who knew him, and with excerpts and music from his writings, the conference aims to highlight the relevance of Cardinal Văn Thuận today: a faithful pastor who was able to transform his experience of imprisonment into a space of prayer, forgiveness, and sacrifice, showing how the light of the Gospel can overcome all darkness. His words convey a message of hope, a universal spiritual heritage.
His Eminence Cardinal Baldassare Reina, Vicar General of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome, will open the proceedings. Speakers will include His Eminence Cardinal Michael Czerny, S.J., Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development; Dr. Waldery Hilgeman, Postulator of the Cause for Beatification of Cardinal Văn Thuận; His Eminence Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy; His Eminence Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization.
Don Carlo Seno, priest of the Diocese of Milan and director of the “Vinea mea” Spirituality Center, will perform on the piano.
The meeting will be moderated by journalist Alessandro De Carolis of Vatican Radio – Vatican News.
During the conference, the Italian edition of the new biography of Cardinal Văn Thuận, written by his sister Élisabeth and published by Città Nuova Editrice, will be presented, with a preface by Cardinal Michael Czerny.
During the conference, the Italian edition of the new biography of Cardinal Văn Thuận, written by his sister Élisabeth and published by Città Nuova Editrice, will be presented, with a preface by Cardinal Michael Czerny.
By the Cause for the Beatification of Cardinal Văn Thuận
The life, works, and spirituality of Cardinal Văn Thuận are also illustrated on the website dedicated to him, in several languages, at https://www.cardinalvanthuan.va/it.html
The arrival of Pope Leo XIV was greeted by a warm applause from the 320 participants at the General Assembly of the Focolare Movement, who had been received in audience at the Vatican. “With that applause,” said the newly elected Co-President, Roberto Almada, “we wanted to express our joy. I was struck by his appreciative and encouraging gaze towards all those who are part of the Movement: priests, families, young people and focolarini.
Right from the outset, Pope Leo XIV drew attention to the root of the charism: “Each of you has been drawn to the charism of the Servant of God Chiara Lubich”. He emphasised that unity remains at the heart of the gift that the Holy Spirit offers to the Church and to the world today.
A people of peace called to be a shield against barbarism
The topic of peace featured prominently in the Pope’s message. He acknowledged that “also through you, God has, over the past decades, prepared a great people of peace”, who are called today “to act as a counterbalance and a shield against the many people who are sowing hatred, who are dragging humanity back into forms of barbarism and violence”. These words confirmed the work of the Assembly, which reflected on how to contribute more effectively to mending social bonds, overcoming polarisation, and promoting dialogue and fraternity in the areas where the Movement is present.
Margaret Karram, re-elected as President of the Movement, commented: “The Pope has once again emphasised how, today more than ever, there is a need for unity in a divided and war-torn world. He has placed even greater emphasis on the need to live out our vocation to fraternity more fully and more effectively. I was also struck by the Pope’s appreciation for the Movement’s work in the ecumenical and interfaith contexts, as well as in other areas.”
The responsibility of the post-foundation phase
A particularly significant point concerned the historic moment the Movement is currently going through. Pope Leo XIV recalled that: “You have been entrusted with the responsibility of keeping the charism of your Movement alive in the post-foundational phase”, a phase that does not end with the generation immediately following the foundress, but which “extends even further”. He urged the Movement to distinguish, with clarity and honesty, between what belongs to the essential core of the charism and what may change over time. He clearly stated that it is necessary to discern “which aspects of your community life and your apostolate are essential, and therefore must be maintained” and “which instruments and practices, although they have been in use for some time, are not essential to the charism… or have presented problematic aspects and therefore should be given up”.
The Pope’s words on transparency – a “prerequisite for credibility” and a right for all because the charism is a shared gift – have confirmed and reinforced a direction that had already developed in the Assembly. A Movement that adopts greater shared responsibility is the necessary step towards living out unity today.
A shared process of renewal: the guidelines for the next five years (2026–2031)
The reflection on the challenges and critical issues raised by the General Assembly has highlighted that at the root of many of the movement’s current problems lies an immature understanding of unity, the founding core of Chiara Lubich’s charism; for this reason, a process of re-evaluation and deeper reflection has been initiated at all levels.
In this context, the aim is: to work towards overcoming divisions and polarisation through the efforts of communities of the Focolare Movement living in local areas and on the “peripheries” of the world, in partnership with those who share the Gospel-based principle of unity through dialogue and collaboration; to support networks committed to promoting peace and education to non-violence; developing a integral vision of care for the planet and for people; strengthening families and communities as places of closeness and mutual support. Alongside this, it is essential to promote the ethical and responsible use of technology and artificial intelligence, involving people of all generations, and to value the contribution of young people and the richness that stems from the coming together of different experiences and sensitivities.
With an approach based on the quality of relationships, on transparency, on participation and on shared responsibility, the Movement renews its commitment to work so as to ensure that every place becomes a space for encounter and collaboration, at the service of the common good and of peace.
Today, the 20 general councillors of the Focolare Movement were elected; during the new term of office, they will support the President of the Focolare Movement in her role.
In accordance with the General Statutes, they, together with the President and the Co-President, are responsible for representing the entire Movement and expressing its unity.
They will be called upon to carry out the tasks entrusted to them by the President, in particular overseeing the practical aspects of the life of the Movement (summarised in the “seven colours”) and the support of the geographical subdivisions (the “zones”). Each one, in their own role, will have at heart the unity of the entire family of the Focolare Movement, safeguarding and promoting it at every step.
They will be called upon to carry out the tasks entrusted to them by the President, in particular overseeing the practical aspects of the life of the Movement (summarised in the “seven colours”) and the support of the geographical subdivisions (the “zones”). Each one, in their own role, will have at heart the unity of the entire family of the Focolare Movement, safeguarding and promoting it at every step.
Stefania Tanesini with the Multimedia and Linguistic Services Communication Team
In recent years, the Middle East has gone through one of the most difficult periods in its recent history.Wars, political instability and economic emergencies have affected millions of people, forcing entire families to leave their homes and putting access to the most basic necessities at risk. In this context, the projects supported through the funds raised for the Focolare Movement’s Middle East Emergency Appeal, implemented by AMUand AFN, sought to offer concrete responses to the most urgent needs, reaching a total of 3,337 people, thanks to the use of 362,754 euros allocated to humanitarian interventions.
Gaza: Supporting the Displaced
October 7, 2023 marked the beginning of a new phase of the conflict in the Gaza Strip. According to the United Nations, about 90% of the population has been forced to leave their homes and almost the entire population is now facing extreme levels of food insecurity.
In collaboration with the local network, in particular with the Caritas organization in Jordan and the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, it was possible to support 1,750 displaced people. The interventions involved the purchase and distribution of basic necessities, food assistance and the welcoming of hundreds of people in two parishes. In addition to food and medicine, a safe place was provided where people could find shelter and care.
In 2024, the intensification of conflicts in southern Lebanon resulted in over one million displaced people. Many families had to leave everything and seek refuge elsewhere.
Thanks to the collaboration with the local Humanité Nouvelle association, 195 people were welcomed at the “La Sorgente” Mariapolis Centre and at the Institut de Réducation Audio-Phonétique (IRAP), in the province of Beirut. Here, displaced people received accommodation, food, medical assistance, clothing and hygiene supplies.
Particular attention was paid to children and young people: 7 classes were organized for 39 students up to the age of 15, allowing them to continue their education even during displacement. Recreational activities, moments of sharing and initiatives promoted by young volunteers helped to create spaces of hope in a situation marked by uncertainty.
Also in Lebanon, the SOSTENIAMOLibano (Let’s Support Lebanon) project was continued. It was established to help people cover the cost of medical treatment in an increasingly fragile healthcare system. The project reached 112 beneficiaries, offering help for the purchase of medicines, psychological support and assistance for hospital treatment.
Another intervention supported small local agricultural producers. Through the “From All Lebanon to All Lebanon” initiative, agricultural and artisanal products were purchased from small producers and distributed to displaced families in the Beirut metropolitan area. This project involved 80 people, contributing both to food support and to the protection of local economic activities.
After more than fourteen years of war, Syria continues to experience an extremely fragile situation. In 2024, during a phase of political transition, many families suddenly found themselves without access to money due to the temporary closure of banks.
Thanks to the local network of the Focolare Movement, it was possible to offer financial support to 305 families in Aleppo, Damascus, Homs and other cities, reaching around 1,200 people. The contribution enabled them to meet their most urgent daily expenses such as food, medicines and basic necessities.
A concrete sign of closeness
Beyond the numbers, these projects above all tell stories of solidarity and collaboration between local and international realities. The goal was not only to respond to the immediate emergency, but also to strengthen community bonds and support the resilience of the people involved.
Prepared by Emergency Coordination Team of the Focolare Movement
To make a contribution to the Middle East Emergency click here
I have felt you beating in the perfect stillness of a little Alpine church, in the shadow of the tabernacle of an empty cathedral, in the breathing as one soul of a crowd who love you and who fill the arches of your church with songs and love.
I have found you in joy. I have spoken to you beyond the starry firmament, when in the evening, in silence, I was returning home from work.
I seek you and often I find you.
But where I always find you is in suffering.
A suffering, any sort of suffering, is like the sound of a bell that summons God’s bride to prayer. When the shadow of the cross appears the soul recollects itself in the tabernacle of its heart and forgetting the tinkling of the bell it “sees” you and speaks to you.
It is you who come to visit me. It is I who answer you: “Here I am, Lord, I desire you, I have always desired you.”
And in this meeting my soul does not feel its suffering, but is as if inebriated with your love: filled with you, imbued with you: I in you and you in me, that we may be one.
And then I reopen my eyes to life, to the less real life, divinely trained to wage your war.
Chiara Lubich in Meditations, New City, London 2005, pages 74-75
