General Assembly 2026

The General Assembly of the Focolare Movement

The General Assembly is the highest decision-making body of the Focolare Movement. It meets every 5/6 years and serves as a moment of deep reflection, renewal, and collective discernment for the entire international community. At its heart, the Assembly is about listening to the Holy Spirit together, bringing together voices from all over the world to respond to the needs of our time while remaining rooted in the Gospel and the charism of unity passed on by Chiara Lubich.

Who Participates?

The Assembly is made up of a wide cross-section of the Movement: lay people, consecrated men and women, priests, youth, families and members from different cultural and social backgrounds. Each brings their lived experience, hopes and questions to the table. The inclusive nature of the Assembly reflects the Movement’s deep commitment to communion, co-responsibility and shared leadership.

What Happens There?

Leadership is elected: including the President, Co-President and members of the Centre of the Movement.

Priorities for the next five/six years are discerned through prayer, dialogue and listening to the worldwide community. Important themes are explored such as how to live the Gospel today, care for the environment, formation of young people and the role of the Movement in the Church and society.

Why is it Important?

The General Assembly sets the tone and direction for the Movement globally. It doesn’t impose a rigid plan, but rather outlines a path that communities around the world can follow together. It is both a spiritual and practical moment, where unity is not only spoken about, but embodied in the process of communal discernment. For many, it is a profound experience of the universal Church and of a people united by a shared vocation: to contribute to the building of a more fraternal world.

2021 Documents