https://fabiociardi.blogspot.com/2026/03/unita-segno-evangelico-e-forza-profetica.html
I feel a bit sorry for the Pope, but today they photographed me more than him. I showed up at the audience in my Oblate habit, which sparked surprise and admiration…
The Pope’s address to the Focolare Assembly has now been published, and analyses and commentaries are multiplying. It must have been a joyful surprise for him to see such a large and diverse Assembly. When do you ever find so many vocations together, so many religious traditions, so many cultures? At the end of his speech, he highlighted this richness. He spoke of the “great spiritual family born from the charism of Chiara Lubich” and mentioned the young people, “who see with clear eyes the beauty of the call to be instruments of unity and peace in the world,” as well as families, bishops, priests, the many focolarini…
The Pope also looked at us consecrated persons, whom he recognized in our distinctive belonging to the Movement: “they have seen the gift of their ministry and religious life renewed through contact with your Movement and your spirituality.” I believe that never before has the full belonging of religious within the Work—and their contribution enriched by the charism of unity—been affirmed so clearly. How far we are from the days of “double belonging”! “All of you”—all! Even bishops, even religious—“have been drawn by the charism of the Servant of God Chiara Lubich, which has shaped your personal existence and the style of your community life.”
But the most beautiful recognition of the value of the Work and of Chiara was the Pope’s thanks “for the countless fruits of holiness, known and unknown, that your return to the Gospel has brought to the Church over all these years.” There could be no higher or more authoritative affirmation: a tree is known by its fruits. The Pope also highlighted other fruits: evangelization, social, cultural, artistic, and economic works, ecumenical and interreligious dialogue… But what is greater than holiness, to which all these must lead?
It was therefore natural and consistent that he invited us “to keep the charism of your Movement alive,” a responsibility for everyone and for each individual, called to place all their abilities at the service of unity—the great ideal of Jesus and of Chiara—“an evangelical sign that is a prophetic force for the world.”
Within this broader picture, the Pope also asked for some steps to live the charism in ever new ways… but we’ll come back to that tomorrow.