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Prayer Meeting for Peace

June 5, 2014

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A ray of hope beamed over the world when on May 25, Pope Francis invited the Palestinian and Israeli Presidents to meet at his home in the Vatican for “an intense prayer to God for the gift of peace”. And this encouraged further belief that peace has to be created and invoked.

On hearing the news about this prayer meeting, people from different cultures and religions, that are inspired by the ideal of unity of the Focolare Movement, have intensified their common prayer for peace. They express their prayer in different words, in various actions that promote peace, and every day, at midday, people in every time zone stop to invoke for world peace.

The news, that the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople will be joining Pope Francis and the Presidents Peres and Mahmoud Abbas for the “prayer for peace” on Sunday at the Vatican, has given rise to greater joy. This is a further incentive to move on with haste towards fulfilling Jesus’ words “that they may all be one so that the world may believe”. Today, more than ever, these words spell out His command.

The Focolare Movement replies to the heartfelt request of Pope Francis “do not leave us alone”, and in all the five continents, particularly in places afflicted by suffering, it unites itself in prayer to be held at the Vatican “so that the Lord will give us peace in that blessed Land!”.

Press release

Updated on June 6, 2014

SIF – Focolare Information Service

 

The Focolare Movement expresses gratitude towards Mgr. Livio Maritano who passed away

May 6, 2014

The death of Mgr. Livio Maritano, Bishop Emeritus of the diocese of Acqui was announced today.

Mgr. Maritano’s relationship with the Focolare Movement became particularly significant after he met Chiara Luce Badano, a young member of the Movement, who lived in his diocese and suffered from a terminal illness. He came to know her during the last part of her life and was struck by her radiant Christian testimony, “by the depth of spirituality, by the great love for God that gave her the strength to face her illness”.

“The Focolare Movement remembers Mgr. Livio Maritano with gratitude and appreciation”, Maria Voce said. “We unite ourselves in prayer to his family, friends, the diocese of Aqui and the whole Church”.

Press release

Updated on May 7, 2014

SIF – Focolare Information Service

Maria Voce’s announcement on the passing away of Fr. Casimiro Bonetti (O.F.M. Cap.)

May 4, 2014

The Focolare Movement expresses its hearfelt closeness to the Order of Capuchin Friars Minor on the passing away of Fr. Casimiro Bonetti.

Divine Providence wanted Fr. Bonetti to be very specially related to the beginnings of the Focolare Movement.

In fact, he was the one to receive Chiara Lubich’s consecration to God on December 7, 1943.

And it was he who in various circumstances proved to be God’s instrument.

Think of the words he said to Chiara when he was touched by her act of generosity: “Yes: God loves you immensely!” Or of his idea about the moment when Jesus suffered most during his passion, expressed on January 24, 1944, when he said he believed that this was when Jesus cried: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mt 27,46).

Such statements, that even amazed Fr. Bonetti when he realised that they were the work of the Holy Spirit, had a particular resonance in Chiara Lubich’s soul. Thanks to the charism God gave her, these statements, together with other intuitions she had, became in time the foundations of the spirituality of unity that animates the life of the Focolare Movement.

Fr. Casimiro Bonetti will always be remembered. Together with all those who in various ways form part of the Movement, I promise our prayers for him with gratitude and appreciation.

Maria Voce

President of the Focolare Movement

Updated on May 4, 2014

SIF – Focolare Information Service

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