Assisi 2011: The Focolare’s Presence

An event that would present surprises of the Spirit: this was the Focolare’s expectation for
the Day of Prayer and Reflection for Peace and Justice in Assisi.

“It was an inspiration,” Maria Voce, president of the Focolare told the Roman Observer newspaper when interviewed about the meaning of the meeting in Assisi, “an inspiration that will certainly mark a new acceleration and depth in living out one’s personal religious convictions in the service of peace. This is especially urgent today when an absurd fear of religion is spreading. Religion, which is a vital source of peace by its very nature, is being blamed as the primary cause of many conflicts, tensions, phobias, intolerance and religious persecutions teeming around the world.” The numerous and high profile delegation left Rome by train on the morning of October 27 with the Pope.

Focolare President Maria Voce was on the train with the leaders of all the major religions of the world. She represented the Focolare Movement which is founded on the charism of unity of Chiara Lubich and has always been deeply and naturally involved in dialogue. The Movement itself includes members from 350 Christian Churches and Ecclesial Communities.

Due to the universal expansion of the Movement, it now carries on an open dialogue with the major world religions, and not only with their individual followers or religious leaders, but also with the leaders and followers of vast movements like the Buddhist movement of the Rissho Kosei-kai, which has six million adherents in Japan, the Afro- American Muslims in the United States and various Gandhian movements in South India. Thousands of followers of other religions also live, in as much as possible, the spirit of the Focolare Movement and actively collaborate in working for its goals.

Dialogue also began with persons of non-religious beliefs like agnostics, atheists and those who are indifferent.

This dialogue develops between believers and people who don’t have a religious faith, but who share the common desire to work together for the brotherhood of the human family.

From this point of view, it is quite emblematic that Benedict XVI wished to invite a group of non-believers to the Assisi event, who “though not professing to be religious, feel that they are seeking for the truth, and also feel a common responsibility for the cause of justice and peace in our world.” Four invitees accepted the invitation of Benedict XVI. They included philosophers, historians and professors from various countries in the world. Among them was Walter Baier: an Austrian economist, General Coordinator of “Transform! Network,” a European research group that includes magazines and leftist think tanks. He is a member of the Austrian Communist Party, but also a collaborator with the Focolare’s international center for dialogue with persons of non-religious convictions.

“A world-city truly appears on the horizon, shining with hope.” This is what the event in Assisi 2011 foreshadowed. “Today,” says Maria Voce, “dialogue between religions cannot be limited to the leaders, researchers and specialists. It should be a dialogue of the people, and this will be more and more essential for peaceful coexistence in our cities and countries, as we find ourselves elbow to elbow with Muslims and Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs. It is a chronicle to be discovered and perhaps invented, without allowing ourselves to be discouraged by the rumors of violence and intolerance. It’s the daily witness that opens the way.”

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An Interview with Maria Voce about Assisi 2011

What were your impressions following the events in Assisi and Rome?

I had a very positive impression. It especially makes me think of John Paul II and Chiara Lubich and their farsightedness in the field of openness and dialogue. They had understood that it was worthwhile to invest in people and infrastructures to develop dialogue. I refer particularly to entities that work specifically for this end: the various Pontifical Councils (for the Unity of Christians, for Interreligious Dialogue, for Culture, for Justice and Peace, within the Church) and the Centers that are concerned with the various dialogues at the core of the Movement. It highlighted how many relationships have been built up over the years. To me this seems something new compared to encounters of other years. Each one of us did a lot over the years, even though it could have seemed little compared to the results obtained

In summary, I think we have reached a point in which we have established true relationships of mutual love

There are a few significant facts that everyone noticed. When Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew’s book fell to the floor, Rowan Williams, the Primate of the Church of England, reached down to pick it up; the Pope was often smiling as he glanced first at one, and then at another. These seem to be small things, but they are gestures that everyone notices, and they give a testimony. Then also present were people with no religious convictions

This was truly a substantial and important novelty, especially because of the way the Pope presented them, as people in search of the common truth. He underscored how the truth transcends everyone, and that no one can claim to possess it completely. It was beautiful the way he explained it. This was clearly new. Assisi 2011 was not only an encounter in the spirit of fraternity and peace, but it was also a moment to elevate our spirits in a search for something that goes beyond this

You were invited together with Andrea Riccardi, founder of the Community of Sant’Egidio, and Father Julian Carrón, who is guiding the Communion and Liberation Movement. It is a noteworthy sign of recognition for the new ecclesial Movements and Communities. How do you see the role of the movements, and especially, that of the laity in the field of dialogue?

Many cardinals and bishops have come to thank me for the delicate and discreet relationships that we build up with people of different religions. It was, therefore, an acknowledgement of what our movement and the other movements in general do in the field of dialogue. I found much appreciation too for the way in which lay people are able to understand the diverse contexts, concrete situations and traditions of the various religions and of believers. The laity can more easily have daily contact with people of other faiths and, therefore, they are acquainted with vital aspects and traditions of these religions. This can also help the institutional Church in its relations with the faithful of other religions. No one can know everything and everyone. One example: I was having lunch with the Sikh delegation, whose members were not afraid to tell everyone that they knew the Focolare and attended all the events that we promote. And with many others it was the same. The relationships that the movements have established with these religious leaders came out in a very spontaneous way. It seems to me that the hierarchy of the Church is quite happy and grateful about this

Roberto Catalano

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