From May 24, 1961, the day of its foundation, the “Centro Uno” began collecting and disseminating news and articles, in order to increase in Catholics a sensitivity to Christian unity, and a series of ecumenical meetings began.
In 1997, in Castel Gandolfo (Italy), the first International Ecumenical Congress organised by the Focolare Movement took place. There were 1,200 participants from 70 Churches, and 56 countries. On June 23 of the same year, at the opening of the Second European Ecumenical Assembly promoted by the CCEE (Council of European Episcopal Conferences) and by the CEC (Conference of European Churches that brings together the Orthodox Churches, the Anglican Church and those of the Reformation). in Graz (Austria), Chiara proposed the spirituality of unity as “ecumenical spirituality”. In 2002 she addressed the World Council of Churches in Geneva (Switzerland).

Chiara Lubich with Igino Giordani and Archdeacon Bernard Pawley
Back to Biography