Focolare General Assembly 2026: A call to be 'a People of Peace'

Source: Focolare Ireland

The General Assembly of the Focolare Movement, concluded in the Vatican on Saturday 21st March, with a private audience with Pope Leo XIV. It marked a pivotal step towards what the Holy Father described as a "more mature unity" for the worldwide movement.

Addressing over 300 delegates from across the globe, Pope Leo XIV encouraged members to remain faithful to the core of the charism of Chiara Lubich, emphasizing that unity is both a gift and a responsibility. In a world increasingly marked by division, he called the Movement to be "a counterweight and a barrier to the many sowers of hatred," affirming its vocation to build peace through dialogue, fraternity and reconciliation.

The Assembly re-elected Margaret Karram as President and elected Rev Roberto Almada as the new Co-President. Together, they echoed the Pope's appeal, highlighting the urgent need for unity in today's fractured world and reaffirming the Movement's commitment to peacebuilding, social cohesion and the strengthening of relationships at every level of society.

Participants from Ireland and England played an active role throughout the proceedings. Among them were:

Catherine Burke (Dungarvan): Co-Director of Western Europe.
Bishop Brendan Leahy (Limerick): Coordinator of Bishop friends of the Focolare Movement.
Prof Declan O'Byrne (Dublin): Rector of Sophia University Institute (Florence).
Rev Dr Callan Slipper: Chair of Trustees for Churches Together in England

A significant contribution also came from Dr Lorna Gold, Executive Director of the Laudato Sì Movement, who addressed the urgency of integral ecology. Drawing on the vision of Laudato Sì, she highlighted the necessity of placing care for creation and care for people at the heart of the Movement's future commitments. She recalled the "Raising Hope" event held last October, which united Laudato Sì and Focolare voices worldwide-a model of the collaborative, outward-looking initiatives the Assembly seeks to foster.

The 2026-2031 Roadmap: The Assembly's final document, The Turning Point of Unity, outlines key priorities for the coming five years:

- Deepening Unity: Moving toward a more mature and authentic understanding of the charism.
- Strengthening Families: Supporting local communities as hubs of dialogue.
- Peace & Nonviolence: Promoting concrete initiatives and networks to counter conflict.
- Social Cohesion: Rebuilding trust in contexts marked by polarization.
- Ecological Responsibility: Advancing care for both people and the planet.
- Ethical Technology: Encouraging responsible use of AI and new digital tools.
- Transparency: Fostering shared responsibility, transparency, and participation within the Movement, valuing the contribution of young people and the richness that arises from the encounter between different experiences and sensibilities..

The presence of participants from areas currently affected by war provided a powerful witness to the urgency of this mission. Particular emphasis was placed on renewing relationships-not only within the Catholic Church but between Churches, different religions, and with people of all convictions.

Reflecting on the conclusion of the Assembly, Margaret Karram noted that "more than ever, unity is needed in a world divided and at war," while Roberto Almada highlighted the shared joy and weight of responsibility felt by participants in responding to this global call.

LINK

Focolare Ireland: www.focolareireland.org