From 1–21 March 2026, the Focolare Movement held its General Assembly at the Mariapolis Centre of Castelgandolfo, bringing together 320 participants from across the world. The concluding live link up news offered a powerful glimpse into this moment of discernment, unity and renewed commitment.
The Assembly gathered representatives from different cultures, Churches, and religions—an expression of the Movement’s global nature and its vocation to build fraternity in a divided world. Through shared reflection and dialogue, participants explored key themes emerging from communities worldwide, helping shape the path ahead for the coming years.
A central moment was the re-election of Margaret Karram as President and the election of Roberto Almada as Co-President. Their acceptance, marked by deep emotion, was experienced as a shared “yes” lived together with the whole worldwide family.
The Assembly began with a spiritual retreat enriched by contributions from international voices, addressing urgent challenges such as peacebuilding, social inequality, communication and the ethical use of technology. These reflections opened the way for days of group work, where participants engaged deeply with questions affecting both the Movement and the wider world.
Voices from every continent highlighted the richness of this experience: testimonies of unity lived amid war, cultural diversity, and social challenges revealed a common conviction—that fraternity is possible, even in the most difficult circumstances.
A particularly significant moment was the audience with Pope Leo XIV, who encouraged the Movement to remain faithful to its charism of unity, to grow in shared responsibility and to place personal and communal conversion at the centre of its life.
Throughout the Link Up, messages and greetings arrived from communities across the globe, reinforcing the sense of belonging to one worldwide family. Behind the scenes, many contributed to making the Assembly possible—through hospitality, translation, and service—reflecting the spirit of unity lived in concrete ways.
The Assembly also marked a moment of remembrance for Marco Aleotti, whose contribution to communication within the Movement left a lasting legacy.
In a world often marked by division and uncertainty, the experience of this Assembly points to a renewed commitment: to live unity more deeply, to listen to the cry of humanity, and to witness—through everyday life—that a more united world is already taking shape.
Watch the full video here to experience the Assembly firsthand and hear the voices of participants from around the world.