Sala Clementina, Saturday 21 March, 2026 : Pope Leo XIV received in audience today the newly elected Focolare Movement leaders and the 320 participants of the General Assembly and encouraged them to be a “people of peace”.
Today, the 20 general councillors of the Focolare Movement were elected; during the new term of office, they will support the President of the Focolare Movement in her role.
With over two-thirds of the votes cast by participants at the General Assembly and a long round of applause, Margaret Karram was re-elected yesterday, 12 March 2026, as President of the Focolare Movement for a second term (2026-2031).
The General Assembly has begun in earnest with intense dialogue and collaborative work. From the 6th to the 11th of March, everyone at the Assembly is exploring nine topics that emerged from proposals received from individuals and communities of the Movement around the world.
2-4 March 2026: The spiritual retreat included listening to the Holy Spirit, moments of silence and prayer for peace, but also addressing the global issues we face, presented by speakers from various cultures.
Silence, prayer, reflection were the focus of the 3-day spiritual retreat of the General Assembly of the Focolare Movement which began on 2nd March.
“I hereby officially declare open the Ordinary General Assembly of the Work of Mary, convened in accordance with the methods established by the General Statutes.” These were the words with which Margaret Karram, President of the Focolare Movement, opened the proceedings today, 1st March 2026.
320 representatives of the Focolare Movement communities around the world will take part in the General Assembly being held at the Mariapolis Centre in Castelgandolfo, Rome, during the period 1-21 March.
The ‘Pre-Assembly Process’ is currently underway in preparation for the General Assembly of the Focolare Movement, which will begin on the 1st of March 2026 in Castel Gandolfo (Rome) with the participation of representatives chosen from different geographical areas, branches and movements; the members by right (those who are part of the current government, the General Council and Zone Delegates in the geographical areas), and those invited by the President.