An everlasting dream

Over one thousand representatives of over twenty Christian denominations, including bishops, Metropolitans and pastors, Russian and Greek-Orthodox clerics among the audience and on stage, along with Anglicans, Syro-Orthodox, Catholics, Reformed Christians; on the background, music of the Far East and Arab chants. Syncretism was nowhere to be seen. Thus, on Saturday March 12 the city of Trent (Italy), representing both Latin and Germanic civilizations, paid homage to the memory of Chiara Lubich, a great protagonist of contemporary ecumenism, marking three years since her death (March 14 2008). Here, in her hometown, was held an “International Ecumenical Day” titled, “Chiara Lubich. Charisma and a Life for the unity of Christians”. The mayor of Trieste, Alessandro Andreatta delivered the welcoming remarks: “The theme of the meeting – he said – testifies to a long-lasting dream, a vision. While elsewhere we find barriers and trenches, here there is a quest for common roots, leading to the new relationships”. The archbishop of Trent, Msgr. Luigi Bressan, added: “In considering the path we have followed until today, we must render thanks to the Holy Spirit for having inspired this path, with gratitude to all those who responded to Love with generosity, and firstly to Chiara Lubich”. It is therefore necessary “to address the challenges of a globalised world, divided by numerous conflicts, many of which were sparked off on religious grounds, with the vitality and the peace of the Gospel”.Useless opposition. Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity sent a long, articulated message: “It’s painful to note that nowadays many Christians no longer suffer as much as they should for the ongoing situation, which is unnatural in the Christian realm”. “Only those who truly love the Body of Christ suffer for the fact that on earth there is ignorance of Him”. The Cardinal highlighted the experience of “the dialogue of life”, “thoroughly implemented worldwide” by the Focolari Movement. “It is a fact – he said – that paves the way, representing a visible sign that Christians worship one God, one faith and one baptism, and that they must live together, mutually loving one another. However, I don’t want to miss this opportunity to signal and share with you my concern for the challenge that hovers over us today, which stems from the partitioning of ‘highbrow’ ecumenism and ‘grassroots’ ecumenism. Acknowledging this reality is important so that all those committed in this field may curb oppositions that risk harming the most holy cause of unity”.A fraternal communion between bishops. An Anglican and a Catholic bishop shared their experiences with the audience. The bishops belong to a large network of bishops from different Churches who have been meeting regularly for the past thirty years, each year in a different city, “to spend together a few days in fraternal communion”. “Each one of us – said Miloslav Vlk, Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Prague – cherish in our hearts Christ’s wish that “all of us may be one”. Together we experience the suffering, sometimes impatiently, due to the fact that we are not yet one, as being so closely bond as true siblings, the pain for not having yet achieved the true visible unity of our Churches is even stronger”. “We also realize – continues Anglican bishop Robin Smith – that with His cross Jesus united the Skies and the earth. Thus we embrace the cross of unfulfilled unity, we wish to carry it on our shoulders so as to be reunited with Jesus’ Cross, thus contributing to the achievement of true, full and visible unity”.Credible and effective proclamation. From Constantinople, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, sent a message conveying his words of gratitude: “She relentlessly revitalized the dialogue of life among Christian faithful”. Orthodox Metropolitan of Italy and Malta Gennadios Zervos shared his personal experience, highlighting the deep bond that united Patriarch Bartholomew and Chiara. “I was present at the Gemelli Polyclinic a few days before Chiara departed for the Heavens – he said – I recall that she was joyful, smiling as she always did, serene, warm. Her charisma was thriving. In fact, her last words were: ‘Forever united!'” The President of the Focolari Movement Maria Voce delivered the closing remarks: “What do we bring with us on this day? Indeed, we have contemplated once more God’s plan: the Churches in full, visible communion, in order to restore on earth the Model that makes Proclamation credible and effective”.