On May 18, 1997, a new stage of relations between Christians and Muslims began. Chiara Lubich, a Christian woman, was invited by Imam W. D. Mohammed, a charismatic leader of African American Muslims, to address the faithful gathered in the Malcolm X Mosque in Harlem. At the end of that day, the Imam said: “Today here in Harlem, New York, a page of history has been written.” The two leaders made a pact of fraternity that was then extended to the two movements. Since then, regular meetings have been held in the United States between Christian and Muslim communities, black and white, which aim to build universal brotherhood with an impact on cities and neighbourhoods. More than forty mosques and Focolare communities are involved in various cities.

A Bangkok (Tailandia), nei primi giorni di gennaio, Chiara incontra il Patriarca Supremo del buddismo tailandese H.H. Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, che incoraggia il dialogo e la collaborazione tra buddisti e Movimento dei Focolari. Il 6 gennaio, A Chiang Mai, parla a numerosi monaci, monache e laici buddisti e comunica loro la sua esperienza spirituale. A Manila, dove l’università cattolica di Bangkok le conferisce il dottorato honoris causa in comunicazioni sociali, incontra anche l’Assemblea generale della Conferenza episcopale filippina, cui presenta la sua esperienza e quella del Movimento dei Focolari. Nel 2002, a Castelgandolfo (Roma), promuove un primo simposio di dialogo interreligioso tra i membri della Scuola Abbà e autorevoli studiosi e professori di religione indù. Seguono simposi con rappresentanti del buddismo (2004), dell’ebraismo (2005) e dell’islam (2005). 

On 17 December 1996, Chiara received the UNESCO Prize for Peace Education. In her speech, she outlined what she described as the "secret" of the success of the Movement that began with her: "It lies in a way of life, in a new lifestyle adopted by millions of people who, inspired fundamentally by Christian principles (without neglecting, but indeed highlighting parallel values present in other faiths and different cultures) have brought peace and unity to this world, that is so much in need of rediscovering or consolidating peace. It is a new, up to date and modern spirituality, the spirituality of unity”[1]. Chiara never attributed to herself the honours that were given to her, but rather to the charism that God had given her and to those in the world who lived it. Her work was recognized at a civic level too. As well as the prize for Peace Education, she received the Council of Europe Human Rights Prize in Strasbourg on September 22, 1998, and many honorary citizenships.

Con il dottorato Honoris Causa dell’Università Cattolica di Lublino (Polonia) conferito il 19 giugno 1996, si apre una serie di riconoscimenti culturali ricevuti nell’arco di ventidue anni, in varie discipline, da parte di Università d’Europa, Americhe e Asia. Dopo quello in Scienze Sociali, seguono altri dottorati h.c.: Teologia (Filippine ’97, Taiwan ‘97, Slovacchia 2003, Liverpool 2008), Comunicazioni sociali (Thailandia ‘97) “per la forza di comunicazione del suo messaggio di pace e di unità, anche attraverso l’uso dei massmedia”, Scienze Umane (USA ‘97), Filosofia (Messico ‘97), interdisciplinare (Argentina ‘98), Scienze della Religione (Brasile ‘98), Economia (Brasile ‘98 , Italia ‘99), Lettere e psicologia (Malta ‘99), Pedagogia (USA 2000), Teologia della vita consacrata (Roma 2004), Arte (Venezuela 2003).