Dialogue within the Catholic Church

Dialogue
within the Catholic Church

This dialogue, in the heart of the Catholic Church, concerns the unity among the various groups, associations and movements in the Church. It is a dialogue which also focuses on building unity among the faithful and with their bishops.

From the very beginning of the Movement, the spirituality of unity spread among priests, men and women religious, in parishes and dioceses. This gave rise to new branches and to specialised movements within the Focolare Movement itself: the priests’ branch, the branch for men and women religious and the New Parish Movement.

Over the years, the Focolare Movement has built relationships with many ecclesial movements and associations through a mutual exchange of both concrete and spiritual support.

In response to a request by the Church, the Focolare Movement, on various occasions, has collaborated with other ecclesial movements in organising international events, such as the Jubilee Days for the youth and for the family. Members of the Focolare have also been involved in consultative bodies, such as pastoral councils, commissions for the laity and in other initiatives of a pastoral nature, e.g. family counselling, pro-life initiatives and courses for married and engaged couples.

In 1966, Chiara spoke to the leaders of the Focolare Movement about the "passion for the Church" which, in the words of Pope Paul VI "has to be transformed into something practical. It has to be a love for the Church as a whole, with its institutions which are fruit of the numerous charisms that the Holy Spirit has given and continues to give. This love calls for understanding and understanding calls for new love. What Christianity teaches us about relationship among individuals – to love and to know one another, to become one with the others to the point of sharing the gifts that God has given to us – has to be transported onto an even wider plane. We must understand, respect and love other movements and works in the Church in order to create and give impetus to a communion of spiritual wealth among everyone."

The historic meeting of the ecclesial movements and communities with the Pope on the eve of Pentecost ’98, marked the beginning of a new development in this dialogue.

pentecoste 98 In response to the Pope’s desire for full communion among the ecclesial movements, Chiara Lubich, in her address in St Peter’s Square, assured the Holy Father of her commitment to contribute towards fully accomplishing this unity "which has already begun".

Three significant events prepared the way for this "historic" moment:

The Italian Eucharistic Congress. For the first time, Chiara Lubich and other founders and leaders of ecclesial movements were invited by the Italian Bishops to publicly give witness to their respective charisms. (Bologna, September 1997)

The Focolare Movement’s encounter with the St Egidio Community. In December 1997, Professor Andrea Riccardi, founder of the St Egidio Community, invited Chiara Lubich to speak to the members of his movement in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome, in order to deepen their mutual understanding.

The 21^st Assembly of the Charismatic Renewal Movement in Italy, held in May 1998 with 40,000 participants. Chiara Lubich was invited to address the meeting from Brazil through a satellite telecast. She shared her experience of the action of the Holy Spirit in her life. Other founders and leaders of ecclesial movements were also invited to address this assembly.