Chiara Lubich, charismatic founder of the Focolare Movement (small communities of lay volunteers) and one of the most influential women in the Catholic Church, was a powerful leader and organizer. The movement has spread throughout the world, bringing its ideals of unity and communion to millions of people, including Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists. She once told a group of Muslims about the "pact of mercy" the early members made to each other. "We decided to see our neighbor in a very new way, when we met him or her each morning, really forgetting their imperfections, their defects, covering everything with love."
She conferred with Pope Paul VI and is considered to have been influential in the proceedings of the Second Vatican Council. She also founded the New Families Movement, the New Humanity Movement and the Gen Movement (for young people). After her death in 2008, people continued to follow her commitment to the oneness of all people. Maria Voce, current president of Focolare, praised Chiara's gift of listening at the opening of her cause for beatification last year. "That was her way of concretely living the gospel message of loving the way we want to be loved,"she said. Today the Focolare Movement is present in 182 countries and claims some two million members.
Chiara Lubich, charismatic founder of the Focolare Movement (small communities of lay volunteers) and one of the most influential women in the Catholic Church, was a powerful leader and organizer. The movement has spread throughout the world, bringing its ideals of unity and communion to millions of people, including Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists. She once told a group of Muslims about the "pact of mercy" the early members made to each other. "We decided to see our neighbor in a very new way, when we met him or her each morning, really forgetting their imperfections, their defects, covering everything with love." She conferred with Pope Paul VI and is considered to have been influential in the proceedings of the Second Vatican Council. She also founded the New Families Movement, the New Humanity Movement and the Gen Movement (for young people). After her death in 2008, people continued to follow her commitment to the oneness of all people. Maria Voce, current president of Focolare, praised Chiara's gift of listening at the opening of her cause for beatification last year. "That was her way of concretely living the gospel message of loving the way we want to be loved,"she said. Today the Focolare Movement is present in 182 countries and claims some two million members.
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