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Protect the Earth, Dignify Humanity

Debate about the moral dimensions of climate change and sustainable development

Vatican City, 28 April 2015

logoThe Consultation at High Level is being promoted jointly by Religions for Peace, United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and the Pontificial Acadamy For Science. The meeting will be held at the Vatican on the 28 April 2015. Participants will include the General Secretary of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, and the Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin.

A hundred participants will be present including scientists, academics, diplomats and religious leaders.

Also invited is Maria Voce as co-president of Religions for Peace.

Press Release

Programme

Declaration

 

Updated on April 30, 2015

SIF – Focolare Information Service

High-level debate at the UN on promoting tolerance and reconciliation as means of countering violent extremism

 

Focolare president Maria Voce has been invited to be a panelist by the President of the UN General Assembly

April 21-22, 2015

onu-sede-324x230On April 21-22, 2015, the UN General Assembly will hold a high-level thematic debate on “Promoting Tolerance and Reconciliation: Fostering Peaceful, Inclusive Societies and Countering Violent Extremism.”

The debate, to take place at the iconic United Nations Headquarters in New York, is an initiative of the current President of the General Assembly, Sam K. Kutesa; Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon; and UN High-Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, Nassir Abudlaziz Al-Nasser. The event will be an opportunity for the 193 Member States and diverse stakeholders, including faith leaders, to address key issues and challenges relating to the promotion of tolerance and reconciliation and share concrete experiences on how to counter the forces that fuel polarization and radicalization. Focolare president Maria Voce will be among them.

Press release, April 15, 2015

Press release, April 23, 2015

“Inventing peace”, Maria Voce’s address

Programme outline

Concept note

Media Advisory

 

Updated on April 23, 2015

SIF – Focolare Information Service

 

Maria Orsola Bussone’s heroic virtues recognized

 

March 18, 2015

 

MariaOrsola

On March 18, 2015, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints published a decree about the canonical process of Maria Orsola Bussone. With this decree the Catholic Church recognizes the heroic virtues of the young Italian from Vallo Torinese who died at the age of sixteen.

Maria Orsola was born on October 2, 1954. Since her childhood, she frequented the San Secondo Martyr parish in Vallo Torinese, near Turin, and she took an active part in the life of the parish community. Her meeting with the Focolare charism took place in this context. The programme “That all may be one” fascinated her. And, while she personally chose God whom she discovered to be love, she embarked on a community journey in the church experience lived in the parish of Vallo.

One day, when interviewed about her parish community, she said: “For us young people, this is very important because we feel the need of a family where members love one another and understand our problems. I want to make it clear that I am not speaking about the natural family: I speak about a spiritual family where our difficulties are answered because we are helped to live the Word of Life and love Jesus Forsaken”.

 

She died on July 10, 1970, in a domestic accident. Maria Orsola’s exemplary life immediately aroused great interest and on July 17, 1997, the Holy See gave the official declaration that the Cause of beatification could be started. The recognition of her heroic virtues now leads to the next step.

 

Biographical and spiritual profile of Maria Orsola Bussone

 

Updated on March 23, 2015

SIF – Focolare Information Service

 

 

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