From the Interview
of LIVING CITY

to Chiara Lubich

Living city: We know of the many demands on your time, yet you immediately and gladly accepted the invitation of Imam W.D. Mohammed to come to Washington and meet with him and the people of your and his movements. Could you tell us why?

Chiara Lubich: Among the many reasons, one in particular motivated me to accept the invitation of Imam Mohammed, and that is the sincere friendship that has been established between us and between our two movements.
We are both convinced of the importance of living out our faiths, even though they are different, because they are both directed towards loving the men and women of our times in whom we see and respect the image of the Creator. The meeting in Washington will therefore constitute a further step in mutual enrichment, and this time it will involve thousands of people whom I feel very close to, as close as one would feel towards brothers and sisters of one’s own family.

Living city: How do you see your relationship with Imam Mohammed as compared to the relationships you have established with the leaders of other religions you have met in recent years?

Chiara Lubich: I see the relationship with Imam Mohammed as very important, perhaps more important than the relationships I have established with other religious leaders.
Ever since I came in contact with eminent leaders of different religions, I have invariably been struck by their commitment to peace, by their strong spirituality, and by their sincere quest for a dialogue that is conducive to unity and peace. I admired in each one of them their faithfulness to their own religious creeds, and I recognized in each one a different beauty, just as light is refracted into the colors of the rainbow. I would say that the differences do not take away from the similarities. Rather, they constitute a challenge to continue the journey towards a greater unity. I feel very much at home with Imam Mohammed, as I do with these other leaders. Actually I feel even more at home with Imam Mohammed because I think that the Lord has brought him especially close to us, just as the Lord brought us close to him, perhaps because of a plan of love that we will understand as we continue to collaborate and work closely together.

Living city: Many followers of Imam Mohammed love and respect you. Many feel they have established a profound relationship with you. What is your experience when you are with them?

Chiara Lubich: I see it as an opportunity to return their love and their respect. I don’t know what the Washington event will be like, but I’m sure that just as has always happened it will far surpass our expectations.

(23-11-2000)