A life devoted to unity

Before the funeral service, representatives of Christian Movements, bishops from different Churches along with representatives of other religions, all publicly expressed their message of condolences. This was probably the most significant token of the requiem funeral mass of the founder of the Focolari Movement Chiara Lubich, celebrated on Tuesday, March 18 in Saint Paul Outside the Walls’ Basilica in Rome. People arrived from all over the world to bid the last farewell to Chiara Lubich (died during the night of March 14). In the front row were seated representatives of Christian Churches, Jews, Muslims and Buddhists. “Chiara’s life – said His Eminence Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone in his homily – is a chant to the love of God, to God who is love”. “Let us continue our eucharist celebration bringing to the altar our words of praise to the Lord for the witness of this sister in Christ, for her prophetic intuitions which preceded and prepared history’s major changes and the extraordinary events experienced by the Church in the 20th century”. Chiara’s people. Numerous personalities from the religious and political sphere paid homage to Chiara. The village of Rocca di Papa on the outskirts of Rome -where Chiara lived and where the International Focolari Movement Centre is located – became a pilgrimage site for an entire people. Thousands wrote their thoughts, memories, and tokens of appreciation on a white book placed at the entrance of the funeral chamber. On Friday 14, the day of her death, the website of the Focolari Movement (www.focolare.org), was visited by 125 thousand contacts. The message of the Pope. Father Oreste Basso, vice-President of the Focolare Movement read the message before the funeral chamber. “With deep emotion I learned of the death of Chiara, which came at the end of a long and fruitful life marked by her tireless love for the abandoned Jesus.” The Holy Father offered his condolences “to the family, members of the Focolari Movement and all those who appreciated her constant commitment for communion in the Church, ecumenical dialogue and for the brotherhood among all peoples”. The Pope expressed his thanks to God “for the witness of her life spent in listening to the needs of contemporary people in full fidelity to the Church and to the Pope”. The bishops’ “thanks”. In a telegram the President of Italy’s Bishops Conference (CEI), Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco and Msgr. Giuseppe Betori recalled “the experience of communion” which Chiara Lubich bore witness to, and which “enriches the life of the Church in Italy and throughout the world”. “It is with great emotion that we recall her relentless efforts in the promotion of peace and unity in the world, in the dialogue with religions and with non-believers. The Focolari communities in the world and in our Country are the sign of this quest for communion among mankind”, wrote from Paris Cardinal André Vingt-Trois on behalf of French bishops. In his message, the bishops of Sweden’s Catholic Church Anders Arborelius said, “the vocation of Chiara Lubich has been to bring together Christians of different denominations and peoples of other religions to pray together and promote a life of peace and equality, which is the vocation of the entire Church. She had a long and intense life: we’re grateful that so many people have been enriched by her commitment. Chiara Lubich is a good example of the great influence of women in our Church, she was undoubtedly one of the most influential personalities in the Catholic Church of the 20th Century”. The sorrow of the ecumenical world. “Our love for Chiara and immense gratitude for the gift of God she has been for the ecumenical movement, will continue to motivate and inspire us in our work for the visible unity of the Church”, wrote Rev. Samuel Kobia, WCC Secretary General in a message expressing the “deep sorrow” of the World Christian Churches for the death of Chiara Lubich. Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I added: “Whether she received a Church official or head of State, whether she was awarded a recognition to her commitment in the progress of religions, whether she spoke to a member of her community or whether she was addressing her words of hope before the United Nations, Chiara burned with the flame of God and at the same time she never cease to smile”. “Chiara Lubich – declared the Secretary General of European Churches Colin Williams – was a woman of great vision. We are grateful for her witness and her contribution to the ecumenical movement in Europe”.