On behalf of the Focolare Movement throughout the world, I express my great joy for the election of Pope Leo XIV as the new Pontiff of the Catholic Church. We thank God for having listened to the prayers of so many people and having, with His Spirit, guided the work of the Cardinals in identifying the successor of Peter at the present time that is posing serious challenges for humanity.

Right From now, we want to assure the Holy Father of our filial closeness, our prayers and our commitment to be peacemakers, as he repeatedly emphasised in his first blessing.

Today the world is in urgent need of peace, light and hope. That is why we promise that we will continue to commit ourselves, together with the ecclesial communities in which we are inserted, to bring God’s love to all; to be open to dialogue, to be ‘one people always at peace’, bearing witness to the fact that the unity asked for by Jesus in his Testament is stronger than any division.

Moreover, we want to commit ourselves to embodying the synodal path ever more faithfully, to be able to apply it also in the various areas of society; to give our contribution so that the Church may be an open and welcoming home for every man and woman and for the new generations, especially for those who are most fragile, those who suffer most and those who are marginalised, so as to offer to all the ever new message of Christ.

Best wishes Pope Leo XIV, with all our love!

Margaret Karram
President of the Focolare Movement

Download the press release

Rocca di Papa, Rome, 21 April 2025

The condolences of Margaret Karram, President of the Focolare Movement on the death of the Holy Father Francis.

It was with deep sorrow that I learned of the return to the house of the Father of our beloved Pope Francis. Together with the whole Church, we give him back to God, filled with gratitude for the extraordinary example and gift of love that he has been for every person and every people.

There have been many moments, throughout his entire pontificate, in which the Holy Father has been a close and loving shepherd also for the Focolare Movement. He has always welcomed us and has guided us to witness to the Gospel with courage and in a radical way.

We have lived many moments with him, which we will never forget. In one of them we remember his words to the General Assembly of the Focolare, when he received us in audience in 2021:

‘Always listen to Christ’s cry of abandonment on the cross, which manifests the highest measure of love. The grace that comes from this, is capable of inspiring in us, who are weak and sinners, generous and sometimes heroic responses. It is capable of transforming suffering and even tragedy into a source of light and hope for humanity’.

Finally, I cannot fail to testify also to the Pope’s love and personal concern for me, for the sufferings of my people in the Holy Land, and my immense gratitude for having invited me to participate in the Synod on Synodality, where he himself opened the doors of the Synodal Church that is now starting to take its steps throughout the world.

Together with the entire Focolare Movement in the world, I unite myself to the prayer of the universal Church and of all men and women of good will, certain that Our Lady “Salus Populi Romani”, (Mary, Health of the Roman People) to whom he was so devoted, will welcome him into heaven with open arms.

Margaret Karram
President of the Focolare Movement

Source: https://www.focolare.org/en/thank-you-pope-francisco/

We have just received the news that Pope Francis has gone to meet the Father, after a sacred journey during which he gave authentic witness as a shepherd and disciple of the Lord and servant of the Church.

Thank you, dear Pope Francis, for your closeness — also towards our Movement. Through your words and actions, you have taught how to love in a selfless way, until the very end, with a heart open to all.

Thank you for all your efforts to help our world recognise the one true path of unity and peace.

Thank you for the rich spiritual legacy you have left behind — one that will surely continue to be a great inspiration to the Church and to the world.

May the Lord grant you eternal peace and joy, and may Mary, Mother of the Church, welcome you into her embrace.

From March to October 2025, a peace training ship is travelling across the Mediterranean, connecting the five shores. It set sail from Barcelona and will make stops at various harbours and countries throughout the region. The students aboard will explore important topics such as Dialogue of Cultures, Education and Society, Religions in Dialogue, The Environment and Development, Eastern and Western Christianity, and more.

Soon, the ship will dock in the Grand Harbour, and on the 27th, 28th, and 29th April, the students will continue their program on our islands, with a focus on the theme “Women in the Mediterranean”. The highlight will be a public conference at the Mediterranean Centre on Sunday 27th April at 4 p.m. For more details, visit https://mela.org.mt/conference.

Med 25 Bel Espoir offers a unique opportunity to foster fraternity in the Mediterranean. The Focolare Movement here in Malta is supporting this initiative during these days, fully embracing the spirit of fraternity.

See conference program below:

Women in the Mediterranean Conference

The fourth lesson of the “Recognising Oneself, the Statutes: A Path and a Mirror” course of the Popular Marian University (UPM) took place on 12th  April. It covered two topics: “Rules and Freedom” by Tommaso Bertolasi and “Government: at the service of unity” by Elisabetta Scomazzon”.

On the occasion of the Jubilee 2025, the Chiara Lubich Centre, together with the Historical Museum Foundation of Trentino have set up a permanent exhibition dedicated to Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolare Movement. The exhibition was inaugurated on Friday, the 14th of March on the anniversary of Chiara’s death, at the Focolare Meeting Point, in central Rome.

“A journey of family, closeness and hope“—this was the theme of Mariapolis 2025, which took place at the Qawra Palace Resort & Spa on the first weekend of March, in a year when the universal Church is celebrating the Jubilee of Hope and when the Focolare Movement is delving deeper into the theme of closeness to God and to our neighbours.

For many, the Mariapolis is an annual event, but this time, too, there were those who participated for the first time—including a family from China and some families from Pakistan who live in Malta. From the very start of Mariapolis, one could feel an atmosphere of family, where people of all ages and from all walks of life found themselves together in an environment that felt removed from daily life and closer to what the heart truly longs for.

The significant number of children and teenagers who took part in the program designed especially for them also played a valuable role in building the full experience of the Mariapolis. This simple yet profound experience strengthened the sense of family, where one could continue discovering the beauty of the art of loving and gain new strengths to look ahead with hope.

The beautiful singing, the music, the faces of the people, and the welcoming environment all contributed to transforming the Mariapolis hall into an oasis of serenity, where one could also perceive that sense of expectation that every Mariapolis brings with it.

Highlights of the Mariapolis Program

The short introduction on the first day served as a link in a chain, connecting some of the history of the Focolare Movement’s beginnings with the reality of the world we live in today. It also inspired those present not to be afraid to continue dreaming of the ideal of a united world, where we can all truly live as brothers and sisters—as one family.

Participants were invited to take part in a “Human Library” where they had the opportunity to join one of eight groups and share experiences on various aspects of life. This was, in a way, the first step on the journey of these days—one that strengthened bonds and increased hope. It was a step that led us to further discover that, throughout our lives, we can weave a story that is both human and divine at the same time.

Saturday morning was entirely dedicated to closeness with God and neighbour. The morning began with a powerful moment of reflection, enriched with thoughts, moments of silence, personal experiences, and music, all reminding us in different ways how God draws us closer to Him and to each other. A highly appreciated contribution came from David Hickey, a Focolarino from Ireland, who lived the Mariapolis experience with us. He led the second part of the morning by sharing his own experience in the light of this theme.

The Saturday afternoon program was entirely focused on the Celebration of the Jubilee of Hope. After an introductory explanation in preparation for this celebration, the participants began a pilgrimage from Qawra to the Church of St. Agatha in Rabat, where they also took part in the Holy Mass, celebrated by the Apostolic Nuncio, Msgr Savio Hon Tai-Fai SDB. It was a solemn moment in which the reality of a Church journeying toward Ut Omnes… – that all may be one – was deeply felt.

Following the Sunday Eucharistic celebration, presided over by Bishop J. Galea Curmi, a panel of young people and adults shared various ideas and experiences that demonstrated how a commitment to closeness can be a remedy for a world wounded by loneliness, indifference, and individualism.

“Closing our eyes before our neighbour makes us blind even before God… Love is the only light that can illuminate a dark world and give courage.” These words of Pope Francis, quoted by Margaret Karram, President of the Focolare Movement, in her reflection on “Closeness”, were also cited in the conclusion of Mariapolis, along with other key points from this theme.

When you have lived such a beautiful experience and the Mariapolis comes to an end, it is almost instinctive to ask: And now that we are leaving here, what will happen? A brief moment of reflection was enough to find the answer in what we had just experienced throughout the weekend. I felt a voice within me urging me to keep walking close to others and together with them: “Keep walking, I am with you!” And I remembered that we were created to be a gift to one another, called to be people of hope, and above all, that we have the golden opportunity to love Jesus in all those we encounter along our path!

By Vivienne Attard

English translation: Mario Falzon
Photo credit: Anthony Dimech

Source: Focolare Movement Website, Ireland

The third session of the “Recognising Oneself, the Statutes: A Path and a Mirror” course of the Popular Marian Un

iversity (UPM) took place on 8^th March. It can be viewed on YouTube.

The topic was “Understanding the Statutes of the Focolare Movement: A Journey Through History and Mission”

The two lessons presented, Approaching the Statutes: A Historical Understanding by Lucia Abignente and The Statutes: Inheritance and Prophecy by Adriana Cosseddu, offered complementary insights into the origins, evolution, and significance of these foundational texts.

A Historical Journey of the Statutes

Lucia Abignente’s lesson provided a detailed historical overview of how the Focolare Movement’s Statutes developed over time. She traced the path from the early 1947 Statute of the Focolares of Charity, Apostles of Unity, approved by the Archbishop of Trent, through successive revisions that reflected both the Movement’s growth and its evolving relationship with the Church. These milestones included the significant 1958 draft, where the name Work of Mary first appeared, and the 1962 and 1963 approvals of separate sections for men and women.

The defining moment came in 1964, when Pope Paul VI granted full approval to the Movement, leading to further refinement of its structure. In 1990, after years of dedicated work, the General Statutes were approved, formally recognizing the Focolare as a private, universal association of the faithful. The Statutes were later revised in 2007 to incorporate new developments, including the establishment of Sophia University and updates to the governance structure.

The Statutes as a Living Guide: Inheritance and Prophecy

Adriana Cosseddu’s lesson examined the Statutes through four key dimensions: legacy, identity, relevance, and prophecy. She emphasized that the Statutes are not merely administrative documents but embody the spiritual and practical framework of the Movement.

1. Legacy – The Statutes encapsulate the gift of unity and mutual love, which Chiara Lubich emphasized as the core of the Movement’s identity. The Premise of the Statutes, signed by Chiara herself, highlights Jesus’ presence among those who live in mutual love, making the Movement’s structure a living reflection of the Gospel.
2. Identity – The Movement’s diverse composition, embracing people from different vocations, backgrounds, and even religions, is enshrined in the Statutes. The unity of the human family remains a guiding principle, ensuring that the Focolare remains open to all who seek fraternity and peace.
3. Relevance Today – The Statutes provide a contemporary framework for applying the Movement’s spirituality in today’s world. Each aspect of life—economic sharing, dialogue, service, and even care for creation—is deeply rooted in Gospel values, as reflected in the different colors that symbolize Focolare’s various commitments.
4. Prophecy – Looking to the future, the Statutes serve as both an identity card and a mission statement. They define unity as the ultimate goal—not just among Christians but among all people. This vision calls for continuous commitment to dialogue, peacebuilding, and engagement with contemporary social challenges.

Conclusion

Together, these lessons provided a rich and profound understanding of the Statutes of the Focolare Movement. From their historical development to their ongoing relevance, they remain both a path and a mirror—a guiding compass for members of the Movement as they strive to bring unity and fraternity to the world. The Statutes are not just a set of regulations but a living testament to a charism that continues to inspire generations.

Texts available here: https://www.universitapopolaremariana.org/en/

The Focolare Movement is deeply saddened by the loss of His Grace, Emeritus Archbishop Msgr. Paul Cremona.

He will be remembered as a shepherd with a kind heart, a warm smile, and a profound love for the people he served. His gentleness, humility, and unwavering dedication to the Gospel touched countless lives.

In this time of sorrow, we unite in prayer, entrusting him to the loving embrace of God, whom he served so faithfully. May his soul rest in eternal peace.

The President of the Focolare Movement, Margaret Karram, sent a message to Pope Francis assuring him of her affectionate closeness and fervent prayer.

She wrote, “May Our Lady envelop you with her maternal love and all the tenderness that you have always recommended that we should have for the good of every person next to us and every nation.”

She added, “I send you the embrace of everyone in the worldwide Focolare Movement who is praying and constantly offering up everything for you. We are infinitely grateful for your life completely given to God and given for the good of humanity.”

Photo: © Raffaelle Orefice–CSC Audiovisivi