A
rainbow of peace and unity
As the clock ticked, their race brought them all around
the whole planet — a race that combined sports
and solidarity for the promotion of universal brotherhood.
 A
rainbow around the sun, against
the clear blue skies of Rome.
A moment of celebration and a promise from Chiara Lubich:
“I will be in Navona Square, in whatever way I
can.” It’s May 10, 2008, and 2,000 teens
in Rome and over 100,000 youths throughout the world
have joined Run4Unity, the race organized by the Young
Ones for Unity, with a continuous link-up via Internet
for this unique relay step-by-step. “I never met
Chiara personally,” said Eric from Columbia, “but
I felt that she was with me, by my side, encouraging
me to live this Ideal. And now the same thing happened
again; even though she was not physically present, we
knew that Chiara was looking down on us from Heaven,
giving us her light with that beautiful rainbow. We
felt her presence very strongly… Chiara continues
to assure us of her unity so that we can live this great
Ideal.”
Run4Unity
this time had a special touch since it took place shortly
after the death of Chiara, who had closely followed
preparations for the event. The Young Ones for Unity
wanted to honor her with this event, to say a worldwide
“thank you,” with their commitment to work
for the fulfillment of her dream which is Jesus’
last will and testament, “That all may be one.”
Michie from the Philippines exclaimed: “It was
a huge testimony to Chiara’s vision of one world.
It was just so beautiful being there and seeing all
those young people trying to love. I was thinking that
Chiara must be very happy as she saw us from heaven.”
The
rhythm of the music and the choreographed dances captured
the attention of many tourists who crowded Navona Square
that Saturday. Youths from Oceania were the first to
start the relay race, symbolically passing the baton
on to their peers in the next time zone. From Asia to
Africa, then on to Europe and the Americas, young people
ran not only on foot but also in canoes, on skates;
passing through the streets of big metropolises, as
well as climbing up the slopes of Everest in Nepal,
or taking the cable car up the Andes of Ecuador, 4,100
meters high up.
At
that start or at the finish line of their respective
races, they bore witness through artistic presentations,
games and experiences of life, affirming that the encounter
between cultures and faiths is not only possible, but
also a reality in many parts of the world. They shared
their way with spontaneity and conviction, living by
a rule that unites Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Jews…
the “Golden Rule” of the Gospel, which is
present in all faiths and inscribed in the heart of
every person: “Do to others as you would have
them do to you.”
Not
only a very symbolic race or an event to sensitize people
to unity, it was also concretely expressed and supported
through 1,000 initiatives. “Let’s Color
Our City With Love,” the program launched by Chiara,
was highlighted during the day. It seeks to bring joy,
comfort and love to the gray zones of our cities: in
hospitals, orphanages, and marginalized neighborhoods,
among immigrants, and even in public parks. This program
originated from Chiara’s experience herself.
In
numerous cities, they started with small and big initiatives
or actions of solidarity, in unity with existing public
offices, choosing districts where loneliness and poverty
are widespread. They have come in contact with suffering
in its different forms, and are planning actions in
favor of peace and unity. Italy’s Alessio shared:
“One time, my father asked me to bring some physically
and mentally challenged kids to the pool. I immediately
told him no. I thought my friends would make fun of
me for helping others. But right afterwards, I got to
know the Young Ones for Unity. In my heart, I felt that
I had met Jesus. He was asking me to live in the way
of love. So I said ‘yes’ and he has slowly
changed my life. Today, every chance I get, I go to
that institute to be with those children. I play with
them and try to make them happy… only to find
myself experiencing more happiness.”
All
the orientation and preparations for the 2008 Run4Unity
had a global dimension. For example, twinning of zones
with European Cities and countries outside Europe were
done so that those outside Europe could come to Rome.
Raffles of prizes, sales of pizzas and other stuff were
carried out in various, creative and inventive ways.
In this way the result of the sale of wafers from Oslo
arrived in Burundi and proceeds from the sale of wrist
bands from Turin went to Pakistan.
The
reality of a united world became even more tangible
through the direct satellite link-up that at 6:00 p.m.
connected Navona Square with 300 other cities where
the relay was run. The link-up joined young people from
every point of the planet. From Jerusalem they shared:
“Differences among faiths became a springboard
to build unity rather than an obstacle to it. We who
are from different religions have begun a project to
get to know each other and start a friendship on a personal
level, not on a political one. Ten Jews, 10 Christians
and 10 Muslims are involved in this project. During
the year, we meet in different moments to visit the
sacred sites of our three religions, to exchange experiences
and get to know some principles of Christianity, of
Judaism and of Islam.” About this experience youths
from Rome exclaimed: “It’s great to see
how love can really work miracles: we just have to believe
it.”
There
also was a contagious wave of positive feeling for the
institutions represented in Navona Square by many civic
and religious authorities, among whom was the new Mayor
of Rome, Gianni Alemanno who exclaimed, “I hope
that these youth may help us transmit with their light
and sentiments, this possibility of living city life
as a big community, as a big family.” And Nicola
Zingaretti, president of the Province of Rome commented:
“So many boys and girls who speak of unity and
peace, and who not only do not fear diversity, but also
consider this diversity the foundation of a new, feasible
and united world. This is something moving that gives
me goose bumps. In some ways, they are also an example
from which we can learn a lot.”
Navona
Square was in celebration all day long, a novel celebration
coming from young hearts which ended in a Roman evening,
with the procession of symbolic lights carried by the
youth through the streets of Rome, an expression of
the love that has to spread and light up the small and
big nights of many people in the world. And the next
day, the Young Ones for Unity received a confirmation
and encouragement for their journey from Benedict XVI,
after the Angelus on Sunday, May 11: “Dear young
people who follow the charism of Chiara Lubich, continue
with enthusiasm your ‘race for unity.”
New
City
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In
the Philippines, Run4Unity was held in three cities:
Tagaytay, Manila and Davao. With about a thousand participants
from all over the country, the event was primarily inter-religious
in nature as Moslems and Christians ran together in
Davao and Tagaytay in pursuit of friendship and brotherhood.
There was a symbolic exchange of friendship bonds between
young Moslems and Christians in Picnic Grove, near Mariapolis
Peace in Tagaytay. In Davao, more than 500 young people
actively participated, many of whom were Moslems and
some indigenous people of Davao called Badjaos. Even
the local governments of Tagaytay and Davao supported
the event by providing police and traffic escorts. Visits
were made to Social Centers like Marillac (a temporary
home for children in crisis) and Bukas Palad in Manila,
and to an orphanage in Davao as part of the “Let’s
Color Our City Initiative.”