Western Europe
Western Europe is one of the 15 geographical regions that make up the worldwide Focolare Movement. As part of this region, Ireland shares in a network of national communities working together to live and spread the ideal of unity. Here is a list of websites from countries across Western Europe, offering insights into how the Focolare spirit is lived in different cultural contexts.
- Belgium
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Great Britain
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Portugal
- Spain
- Sweden
Chiara’s question to Foco: “Do you know where we are?”
By Michele Genisio – 16 July 2026 Quando Chiara Lubich chiese a Giordani: “Sai dove siamo?” What does the “Pact of Unity”, made on 16th July 1949 in Tonadico, in the mountains of Trentino-Alto Adige, by the founder of the Focolare Movement and the…
A powerful message from the UN for a new generation of leaders
The second edition of the MPPU International Program began with a meaningful message from Felipe Paullier, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, delivered by Martha Barreneche of the United Nations Youth Office. For the more than 600 young…
Fr. Fabio’s reflections on this year’s 16th July
A full page of Avvenire (Italian National Catholic Newspaper) ws dedicated to 16th July 1949, which was celebrated in Fiera di Primiero with the presentation, by the local council, of the international “Tonadico, City of the Pact” award to Gerhard Pross, a founder of…
Magnifica Humanitas. Towards an AI with a human face
Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical confronts us with the need not to lose sight of the human face of technological innovation by Andrea Galluzzi, 3rd July www.loppiano.it Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, dedicated to the protection of the human…
From the Dolomites to Europe: Tonadico, the “City of the Pact” uniting the Continent
Gerhard Pross (YMCA Esslingen, Germany) awarded for Together for Europe (TfE) Tonadico is a town in northern Italy, close to the border with Austria and a popular tourist destination for those who love winter skiing or enjoy the mountains in summer. It is a small…
A prize for Run4Unity
The international relay race that the Teens for Unity organize every year on the first Sunday of May, during the “United World Week”, has won the #BeActive EU Sport Awards. Run4Unity, the worldwide marathon of the Teens for Unity, takes place every year,…
3rd annual Ecumenical Focolare meeting of Bishops, Ministers and Laity in leadership roles
On 1st July the third annual ecumenical day meeting of Bishop, ministers and laity in leaderships roles in Ireland held in the Benedictine Abbey at Rostrevor in Northern Ireland. Churches represented were: from the Church of Ireland, the Eritrean Tehwahedo Orthodox…
Closeness is what love looks like
Pope Francis famously urged pastors to be shepherds who ‘live with the smell of the sheep’. This was the appeal extended to the participants of the weekend Mariapolis (27th- 28th June) at the Focolare Centre in Prosperous, on the theme Living Closeness. Around 100…
Lorna met Arnold… AGAIN!
It looks like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lorna Gold are becoming regular fixtures on the international climate circuit! Fresh from their encounter at last October’s “Raising Hope” gathering in Castel Gandolfo, Lorna and Arnold met again this week at…