Editing Focolare Movement

{{Short description|Christian new religious movement}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox organization
| name          = {{big|Focolare Movement}}    
| former name   = 
| image         = FocolareMovement.png
| image_border  = 
| size          = 160
| caption       = 
| abbreviation  = 
| predecessor   = 
| successor     = 
| formation     = 
| extinction    = 
| merger        =
| merged        = 
| established =   {{Start date and age|df=yes|1943}} 
| type          = [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] [[new religious movement]]
| status        = 
| purpose       = Universal brother/sisterhood
| headquarters  = Via Frascati, 306 – 00040<br>Rocca di Papa, Rome, Italy
| location      = 
| coords        = 
| region_served = Worldwide, 182 nations<ref name=":0">{{Cite web | url=http://www.focolare.org/en/movimento-dei-focolari/storia/|title=History |date=11 June 2010|work= Focolare Movement |access-date=12 July 2017}}</ref>
| membership    = 
| language      = 
| general       = 
| leader_title  = Founder
| leader_name   = [[Chiara Lubich]]
| leader_title2 = President
| leader_name2  = Margaret Karram
| leader_title3 = 
| leader_name3  = 
| leader_title4 = 
| leader_name4  = 
| key_people    = 
| main_organ    = ''Città Nuova'', 37 editions worldwide<ref>[http://www.focolare.org/en/all-opera/media/riviste-ed-editrici/ ''Citta Nuova''. Retrieved 11 July 2017.]</ref>
| parent_organization = 
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| website       = [http://www.focolare.org/en/ Focolare ]
| remarks       = 
}}
[[File:Chiara-Lubich.jpg|thumb|right|260px|[[Chiara Lubich]], founder of the Focolare Movement]]

The '''Focolare Movement''' is an international organisation of spiritual and social renewal and [[Christianity|Christian]] [[new religious movement]] that promotes the ideals of unity and universal brother/sisterhood grounded in the [[Golden Rule]]. It was founded by then elementary school teacher [[Chiara Lubich]] in 1943 in [[Trento]], [[Northern Italy]], as a [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] [[Catholic laity|lay movement]]; it remains largely Roman Catholic but has strong links and member of many major [[Christian denominations]], [[Catholic Church and ecumenism|other religions]] and [[Irreligion|non-religious]] people.

The Focolare Movement is present in more than 180 nations, has over 140,440 members and more than 4 million sympathisers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Opera di Maria |url=http://www.laici.va/content/laici/it/sezioni/associazioni/repertorio/opera-di-maria.html |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=www.laici.va}}</ref> The word "Focolare" is Italian for "family fireside".<ref name="word-meaning">{{cite web|url=http://www.wordreference.com/iten/focolare|title=focolare - Dizionario italiano-inglese WordReference|work=wordreference.com}}</ref>

While the term Focolare is the common sobriquet of the international organization, the [[Directory of International Associations of the Faithful|International Association of the Faithful]] of Pontifical Right lists its official name as "Work of Mary",<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/laity/documents/rc_pc_laity_doc_20051114_associazioni_en.html#WORK |title=International Associations of the Faithful, Directory - Pontifical Councils for the Laity |website=www.vatican.va |access-date=2017-07-12 }}</ref> approved in 1990 as "Opus Mariae".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Work of Mary - Focolare Movement |url=https://www.laityfamilylife.va/content/laityfamilylife/en/associazioni-e-movimenti/repertorio/opera-di-maria.html |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=www.laityfamilylife.va |language=en}}</ref>

== Beginnings ==
{{Further|World War II in Italy|Italian Civil War}}

In the Northern Italian city of [[Trento]] in 1943, in the climate of violence and hatred of the [[Second World War]] and Nazi Occupation of Northern Italy (under the puppet state known as [[Republic of Salò]]), the young elementary school teacher [[Chiara Lubich]] saw God's Love as the only thing that was not fallen in rubble. With a copy of the [[Bible|Gospel]] from her spiritual father, she and few girls, while sheltering during air raids, started to live each phrase for the day or for the week.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Olivero |first=Antonio |date=2017-12-19 |title=Chiara Lubich: "Parole di Vita" {{!}} focolaritalia.it |url=https://www.focolaritalia.it/2017/12/19/chiara-lubich-parole-vita/ |access-date=2025-02-04 |language=it-IT}}</ref> Of the many phrases lived she claimed two struck her deeply: Jesus' prayer "that they all may be one"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bible Gateway passage: John 17:21 - King James Version |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2017%3A21&version=KJV |access-date=2024-07-19 |website=Bible Gateway |language=en}}</ref> and Jesus' outcry "My God, why have you forsaken me?"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Matthew 27:46 - Bible Gateway |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Matthew%2027%3A46 |access-date=2024-07-20 |website=www.biblegateway.com |language=en}}</ref> Later she will call these "the two faces of the medal that forms the movement".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Il respiro dell'anima |url=https://edizionicittanuova.it/prodotto/il-respiro-dellanima/ |access-date=2024-07-20 |website=Edizioni Città Nuova |language=it-IT}}</ref>

During the war this group of young girls and many others sequentially joined in helping those in the shelters and in the poorest parts of the town of Trento, sharing her vision that was later called "Ideal".

In the aftermath of the [[World War II|Second World War]] criticisms, misunderstandings and accusations began to spread against this new community in Trento. Living the Gospel, communicating experiences, sharing their few possessions and making unity their ideal, aroused suspicions of Protestantism or a new form of communism.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bernhard Callebaut |date=2018 |title=Between Tradition and Prophecy: The Impact of the Personality of Chiara Lubich |journal=Claritas: Journal of Dialogue and Culture |volume=7 |pages=60–71}}</ref> Their radical way of living the Gospel that Chiara proposed attracted the accusation of "fanaticism", and the word "love", not customarily used in the Catholic sphere at that time, was likewise misunderstood.<ref name=Gallagher>Gallagher, Jim. ''A woman's work: Chiara Lubich'', HarperCollins Publishers, Ltd., London 1997</ref>

In 1948, the Italian politician and journalist [[Igino Giordani]], an [[Constituent Assembly of Italy|Italian Republic Constitution father]], member of the [[Italian Parliament]] and pioneer of [[Catholic Church and ecumenism|ecumenism]] joined the group, bringing social unity and politics as new dimensions of the ideal. Giordani is one of the co-founders, along with Fr. [[Pasquale Foresi]], who would work on the theological ground to answer the Catholic Church questions and later help found the movement main journal, New City Press, in 1964.<ref name=":2" />

The movement, even under adversities between 1949–50, spread rapidly throughout [[Northern Italy]] and across Europe, then worldwide. In 1958, members of the movement from Europe began to travel to other continents at the request of people who wanted to know more about it. In 1958, it reached various countries in South America, in 1961 North America, in 1963 Africa, in 1966 Asia and 1967 Australia.<ref name=Gallagher/>

Today it has 140,440 members in more than 180 countries. People more broadly involved in the movement are estimated by [[Holy See|the Vatican]] at 4.5 million.<ref name=":2" />

== Focolare towns ==

[[File:Loppiano1970.jpg|right|thumb|260px|Building the road to the future Focolare town Loppiano]]

After 1949, summer vacations together in [[Fiera di Primiero]] in the [[Dolomite Mountains]] and many other places in Norther Italy saw large numbers incoming for the retreats. Some priests and religious with a variety of spiritualities were present even if the movement was not yet fully recognised by many churches, and by 1955 this gathering took on the name "Mariapolis", literally "City of [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Mary]]" since it was a place "to live like Mary".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pastorelli |first=Tamara |date=2023-10-06 |title=The Mariapolis in a Mariapolis: Building Fraternity |url=https://www.loppiano.it/en/2023/10/06/la-mariapoli-in-mariapoli-far-crescere-la-fraternita-2/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=Loppiano |language=en-US}}</ref>

The desire to share, materially, culturally, and spiritually, beyond the sole summer reached a focal point after Chiara's visit to the [[Benedictine]] [[Einsiedeln Abbey]] in [[Switzerland]] in 1962. The dream of permanent towns of brother/sisterhood, "simple houses, workplaces, schools—just like an ordinary town" began to take the first steps, and in 1964 Loppiano,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Loppiano - International city of the Focolare Movement |url=https://www.loppiano.it/en/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=Loppiano |language=en-US}}</ref> the first permanent Mariapolis was built on land donated by Vincenzo Folonari, near [[Florence]]. It has grown to include 900 people of worldwide origins and diverse occupations, married and single, priests and religious, who work and study together and strive to live the ideal.

[[File:Loppiano works 03.jpg|thumb|right|260px|Communal electrical shop, Loppiano, 1989]]

According to the data published by the Focolare Movement, twenty-four other such towns have sprung up worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Friends |url=https://www.loppiano.it/en/friends/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=Loppiano |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>[https://www.focolare.org/mariapolisluminosa/about-us/ Mariapolis Luminosa]</ref> Some have specific emphases: ''ecumenism'' (Ottmaring, Germany;<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ottmaring.org/index.php?id=74|title=ottmaring.org: Startseite|website=www.ottmaring.org|language=de|access-date=12 July 2017}}</ref> [[Welwyn Garden City]], Great Britain); ''ecology'' ([[Rotselaar]], Belgium); ''interreligious dialogue'' ([[Tagaytay]], Philippines); ''multi-ethnic harmony'' (Luminosa, [[New York (state)|New York]]; Faro, [[Križevci, Croatia]]); or ''inculturation'' ([[Fontem]], Cameroon; Kenya; Ivory Coast).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/ProgettoMan/|title=:: Gli amici di MAN ::|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=12 July 2017}}</ref> Others have the names of people who are linked to the history of the movement in a part of the world, such as ''Ginetta'' ([[Vargem Grande Paulista]], [[Brazil]])'', Renata'' (Loppiano, [[Italy]])'', Piero'' ([[Nairobi]], [[Kenya]]) or ''Lia'' ([[Chacabuco, Buenos Aires|Chacabuco]], [[Argentina]]). In these towns religious and cultural differences are peacefully present, according to the ideal of love that Chiara has always lived as the central bridge of the charism of unity.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.focolare.org/en/all-opera/cittadelle/|title=Focolare Towns |date=11 June 2010|website = Focolare Movement |access-date=12 July 2017}}</ref>

==Development==
In November 1956, an [[Hungarian Revolution of 1956|uprising of the Hungarian people]] was brutally suppressed. Chiara responded by calling for an army of volunteers for the cause of God, "volunteers of God": "A certain society has attempted to erase the name of God, the reality of God, the providence of God and the love of God from people's hearts. There has to be a society that can put God back in his rightful place (...). A society that witnesses to only one name: God."<ref>Cf. C. Lubich, I volontari di Dio, in "Città Nuova" (1957), anno II n. 1 /, in C. Lubich, Attualità, leggere il proprio tempo edited by M. Zanzucchi, Città Nuova, Rome 2013, pp. 11-13</ref> Thus, the "volunteers of God" came to life, the first of 18 branches within the Focolare Movement.

Groups met according to their area of engagement and, with Chiara's inspiration, began centers for politics, economy, medicine, and art. These later developed into a wider movement that Chiara launched in 1968 with the name "For a New Society" and later changed to "New Humanity.<ref name=Gallagher/>

The Focolare Movement has branched out to address a variety of groups including families, youth, and different religions. Special projects have sprung up within the movement, such as the "Abba" school,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.focolare.org/en/all-opera/studio-e-formazione/scuola-abba/|title=Scuola Abbà | date=27 July 2010|website = Foculare Movement |access-date=13 July 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> ''Young People for a United World'' (now [[Youth for a United World]]), Teens4unity,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.teens4unity.org/|title=Teens4Unity|website=www.teens4unity.org|language=it-IT|access-date=12 July 2017}}</ref> [[Economy of Communion in Freedom|Economy of Communion]] (involving 800 companies), evangelism within small cities, social work, the [[Igino Giordani]] Centre,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iginogiordani.info/en/the-centre.html|title=Igino Giordani - Foco|website=www.iginogiordani.info|language=en-gb|access-date=12 July 2017}}</ref> and 27 publishing houses.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://christusimperat.org/en/node/14050|title=The Focolare Movement {{!}} МСІ-Milites Christi Imperatoris|website=christusimperat.org|language=en|access-date=12 July 2017}}</ref> Pope Francis in praising Economy of Communion called on it to change "the rules of the game of the socio-economic system."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/02/04/pope_francis_change_the_rules_of_the_socio-economic_system/1290369|title=Pope Francis: Try to change the rules of the socio-economic system|access-date=12 July 2017|language=en}}</ref> John L. Allen Jr. has observed that it is hard to "pick a fight with a ''focolarino''. They tend to be open, ego-free, and just relentlessly nice."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/all-things-catholic/memo-divided-church-meet-focolare|title=Memo to a divided church: Meet the Focolare|date=10 March 2011|work=National Catholic Reporter|access-date=12 July 2017}}</ref>

The president of the Focolare Movement, who is always a [[Catholic laity|Catholic lay woman]]<ref name=":2" /> is Margaret Karaam, who succeeded the second president (after Chiara Lubich) [[Maria Voce]] in 2021.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2015/02/13/churchs-most-powerful-woman-focuses-on-unity/|title=Church's most powerful woman focuses on unity|work=Crux|date=13 February 2015|access-date=26 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527111613/http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2015/02/13/churchs-most-powerful-woman-focuses-on-unity/|archive-date=27 May 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2011/01/20/maria-voce/|title=Maria Voce|publisher=Focolare Movement}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/30619/francis-gives-focolare-three-words-as-the-movement-is-renewed|title=Francis gives Focolare three words, as the movement is renewed|agency=Catholic News Agency|access-date=12 July 2017}}</ref> In accordance of the female presidency there is a male vice-president, at this moment Jésus Moran.

==Thought and Charism==
{{Blockquote|text=Love is stronger than everything and this is your faith, the source of inspiration for all that is done in the name of Focolare, all that you are, all that you do in the world.|sign=St. John Paul II during his visit to the Focolare headquarters in 1984}}

Since the late 1940s around Chiara Lubich many people saw her charisma as something different than similar branches of Christianity, such as the [[Third Order of Saint Francis|Third Order Franciscans]] of which she was initially a part. Thanks to the work of Pasquale Foresi, Giuseppe Maria "Peppuccio" Zanghì and since the 1990s the Abbà School a great number of people was involved in study and dissection of the theological, cultural and social implications of the charisma of unity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Scuola Abbà: un fiore a quattro petali |url=https://www.focolare.org/scuola-abba-un-fiore-a-quattro-petali/ |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Movimento dei Focolari |language=it-IT}}</ref>

[[Pope John Paul II]] described the Focolare Movement as — a "small people, an expression of the great people of God, moving on towards the building of a civilization of love, towards the goal of a more united world. This movement has a specific spirituality, which is collective and also has its own well-defined culture".<ref name="Riccardi">{{Cite web |last=Riccardi |title=The spirituality and aims of the Focolare Movement |url=https://chiaralubich.org/en/archivio-scritti-en/the-spirituality-and-aims-of-the-focolare-movement/ |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Chiara Lubich |language=en-US}}</ref>

Chiara said that "this is a Movement, whose main objectives and goals are these: God chosen in fact as an Ideal; love chosen as a lifestyle; unity which becomes the practice binding each person to God and people with one another.<ref name="Riccardi"/>"

Theologically the movement can be summed up on two pillars that could be defined as "Praxis of Nothingness, [[My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?|Jesus Forsaken]], and Unity in Love (as in the Last Prayer<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bible Gateway passage: John 17:21 - King James Version |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2017:21&version=KJV |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Bible Gateway |language=en}}</ref>) by keeping Jesus in the midst."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Matthew 18:20 - A Brother who Sins |url=https://biblehub.com/matthew/18-20.htm |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Bible Hub}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-07-18 |title=The Vision and Praxis of Nothingness and Unity in the Spirituality of Chiara Lubich |url=https://www.asiaresearchnews.com/html/article.php/aid/126/cid/2/research/culture/de_la_salle_university/the_vision_and_praxis_of_nothingness_and_unity_in_the_spirituality_of_chiara_lubich.html |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Asia Research News |language=en}}</ref> These concepts are the theological core of the charisma of unity.

This thought is clearly slended towards universality grounded on the [[Golden Rule]], and this can be seen by a strong presence in ecumenism,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Together for Europe |url=https://together4europe.org/}}</ref> dialogue with believers and non-believers,<ref>{{Cite web |title=In dialogue |url=https://www.focolare.org/en/in-dialogue/ |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Movimento dei Focolari |language=en-US}}</ref> international aid and adoptions<ref>{{Cite web |title=Actions for a United World (A.M.U.) |url=https://www.amu-it.eu/en/}}</ref> and many other fields such as the collaboration with other lay organisations of the Catholic Church.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023 |title=Margaret Karram, President of the Focolare Movement, among the new Members of the Dicastery |url=https://www.focolare.org/en/margaret-karram-among-the-new-members-of-the-dicastery/}}</ref>

==Interreligious dialogue==
[[File:Interreligious Dialogue.jpg|thumb|Interreligious dialogue at the International Mariapolis Center in Rome]]
Chiara Lubich possessed "an almost prophetic capacity to intuit and actualise before hand the thought of the Pope", said in a letter Pope Benedict XVI read out by Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, at Chiara Lubich’s funeral Mass in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Letter to Card. Tarcisio Bertone on the occasion of the Funeral Mass for Chiara Lubich, Foundress of the Work of Mary - Focolare Movement (March 18, 2008) {{!}} BENEDICT XVI |url=https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/letters/2008/documents/hf_ben-xvi_let_20080318_chiara-lubich.html |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=www.vatican.va}}</ref> Pope John Paul II put his finger on one example recognising "the radicalism of love of Chiara, of the Focolarini," – a "Gospel radicalism of love" – as an answer to what had long been his concern for a hate-dominated world.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Judith Povilus |date=2020 |title=The Prophetic Insight of Chiara Lubich: The Word that is Love |journal=MELITA THEOLOGICA - Journal of the Faculty of Theology |volume=70 |issue=1 |pages=23–25}}</ref> But beyond Christianity, Chiara Lubich’s spiritual experience of kenosis led her to be open to the presence of God in other religions, and in a spirituality of openness she started and pushed on dialogue. This in turn led people of other faiths to find a home in the Focolare movement.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Donald W. MITCHELL |date=2013 |title=The Mystical Theology of Chiara Lubich: a Foundation for Interreligious Dialogue in East Asia |journal=Fu Jen International Religious Studies |volume=7.1 |pages=1–20}}</ref>

While unity was in the Christian sphere the key attraction (for all Christians, since its source is in the Gospel of John), forsakeness/suffering was the appeal for dialogue with people of other faiths or with people without faith.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Young |first=Robert |date=2019-05-02 |title=The Forsaken Jesus and the Black Sun of Atheism |url=https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/claritas/vol8/iss1/6/ |journal=Claritas: Journal of Dialogue and Culture |volume=8 |issue=1 |issn=2163-5552}}</ref>

Today the Focolare Movements define 5 dialogues:

- First Dialogue, dialogue inside the Catholic Church realities in communion<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rinunce e nomine |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2023/11/25/0828/01795.html |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=press.vatican.va}}</ref>

- Second Dialogue, dialogue between the various churches of Christianity<ref>{{Cite web |title=Together 4 Europe |url=https://together4europe.org/en/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=together4europe.org |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ecumenism and the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity |url=https://www.focolare.org/en/ecumenism-and-the-week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=Movimento dei Focolari |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Riccardi |title=A fourth pathway ecumenical dialogue: the dialogue of life |url=https://chiaralubich.org/en/archivio-scritti-en/a-fourth-pathway-ecumenical-dialogue-the-dialogue-of-life/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=Chiara Lubich |language=en-US}}</ref>

- Third Dialogue, dialogue with anyone who believes in some spirituality/faith<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-11 |title=Interreligious Dialogue |url=https://www.focolaremedia.com/magazine/content/interreligious-dialogue?srsltid=AfmBOoqn3n_0UeExVxgBHMgyft-R2TNyW8NIMrT8QbH1dF7bFPFn_EYP |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=Focolare Media |language=en}}</ref>

- Fourth Dialogue, dialogue with anyone who does not believe in any spirituality/faith

- Fifth Dialogue, dialogue within the contemporary culture's challenges, risks and opportunities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brasil |first=edc |date=2024-06-19 |title=#Brazil: The EoC will be present in all three phases of Genfest |url=https://www.edc-online.org/en/home-en/news/19464-brazil-the-eoc-will-be-present-in-all-three-phases-of-genfest.html |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=www.edc-online.org |language=en-gb}}</ref>

==Renewal==
At a reorganizational meeting in 2014 newly elected council members had an average age 16 years younger than that of the previous council, and the 30 council members came from 20 countries. In Pope Francis' address to the reorganizational meeting, he said: "The Work of Mary, that everyone knows as the Focolare movement, was a little seed in the Catholic Church's womb, that in the course of the years has brought to life a tree which now extends its branches in all the expressions of the Christian family and also among members of different religions and among many who cultivate justice and solidarity together with the search for truth." Francis went on to describe elements of the movement as contemplation, going out to engage in dialogue and formation of youth. Of contemplation he said: "We need to contemplate God and the beauty of his love," keeping in mind that "to contemplate means to live together with brothers and sisters, breaking with them the bread of communion and fraternity," since "contemplation that leaves people outside is a lie, it is narcissism."<ref name=":1" />

''Les Jours'', an online investigative news site, published a series of articles concerning abuse within the movement. In light of allegations of sexual abuse brought against Jean-Michel Merlin, a consecrated member in France, the Focolare Movement contracted with GCPS Consulting to look into the matter.<ref>[https://inquiry.gcps.consulting/report.html "Independent Inquiry", GCPS Consulting]</ref> In October 2020, three senior officials of the movement stepped down amid questions regarding their handling of complaints.<ref>[https://international.la-croix.com/news/religion/three-focolare-leaders-in-europe-resign-amidst-abuse-query/13231 Neuville, Heloise de, "Three Focolare leaders in Europe resign amidst abuse query", ''La Croix'', 26 October 2020]</ref> Focolare subsequently initiated an internal investigation into the number of cases of claimed abuse.<ref>[https://www.ncronline.org/news/abuse-report-global-catholic-group-focolare-leaves-many-questions-unanswered Tourn, Federica. "Abuse report from global Catholic group Focolare leaves many questions unanswered", ''National Catholic Reporter'', 17 July 2023]</ref>

==Publications==
The Focolare magazine, entitled ''Città Nuova'' ("new city"), began at the 1956 Mariapolis from the desire of people to stay connected to the spirituality and the movement as a whole. In one of its first editorials, Chiara expressed her vision for it: "We would like to collect all the various experiences of people who are bringing unity all over the world (...) so that the good that one person does will become the common good and the common good will belong to each individual."<ref>Lubich, Chiara. Editoriale in "La Rete" n. 1, 5 Marzo 1957</ref>

New City Press, established in 1964, is the official publishing house for the Focolare Movement, publishing books, periodicals, and e-books.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newcitypress.com/about/|title=About New City Press|publisher=New City Press|access-date=26 September 2011}}</ref> Among its publications are the ''Spirituality of Unity'' series, featuring the works of founder [[Chiara Lubich]], and ''Understanding the Scriptures'', Bible commentaries by scholars such as [[Daniel J. Harrington]], Dianne Bergant,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ctu.edu/academics/dianne-bergant-csa |title=Dianne Bergant, CSA |website=Catholic Theological Union |access-date=14 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928210500/http://www.ctu.edu/academics/dianne-bergant-csa |archive-date=28 September 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Robert Karris,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sbu.edu/about-sbu/people-of-sbu/faculty-profiles/karris-robert-j.-o.f.m-|title=Faculty Profiles |website=St. Bonaventure University|access-date=14 July 2017}}</ref> and Ronald Witherup.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.crossroadpublishing.com/crossroad/author/ronald-d-witherup|title=Ronald D. Witherup|work=Crossroad|access-date=14 July 2017}}</ref> NCP publications include: the academic journal ''Sophia'' twice a year; three quarterlies – ''Gen's'' on ecclesial commitment<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.focolare.org/en/movimento-dei-focolari/scelte-e-impegno/gen/|title=Gen |date=27 July 2010|website = Focolare Movement | access-date=13 July 2017}}</ref> as well as ''New Humanity,''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.umanitanuova.org/en/|title=New Humanity Movement|website=www.umanitanuova.org|language=en-gb|access-date=13 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.focolare.org/movimento-dei-focolari/un-popolo/umanita-nuova/|title=Umanità Nuova | date=27 July 2010|website = Focolare Movement |access-date=13 July 2017|language=it-IT}}</ref> and ''Unity and Charisms'';<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.relipress.org/unita-e-carismi/|title=Unità e Carismi|website=www.relipress.org|access-date=13 July 2017}}</ref> the bimonthly ''Teens'' for children; and the monthly periodicals ''Città Nuova'' (published in 38 different national or regional formats; known as ''New City'' in the UK, and as ''Living City'' in the US, where its editor is [[Jon M. Sweeney]]) with opinion and dialogue,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cittanuova.it/|title=Homepage - Città Nuova|website=Città Nuova|language=it-IT|access-date=13 July 2017}}</ref> ''Big Smart Kids'' including inserts for educators, and ''Gospel of the Day.''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newcityph.com/ncpbooks/index.php|title=New City Press PH|website=www.newcityph.com|access-date=13 July 2017}}</ref> Focolare also publishes ''Economy of Communion'', a quarterly magazine and website.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.edc-online.org/it/60-josetta-1-en-gb/eoc-magazine.html|title=Benvenuto sul sito ufficiale dell'EdC!|website=www.edc-online.org|language=it-it|access-date=13 July 2017}}</ref>

==Members proposed for sainthood==
{{More citations needed section|date=June 2021}}
During the short life of the Focolari Movement, many Catholic members have been proposed for sainthood status to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.

===Blesseds===
* [[Chiara Badano]] [Luce] – (1971–1990), Young Layperson of [[Sassello]]; Member (Italy)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/13152/italian-teen-one-step-closer-to-sainthood|title=Italian teen one step closer to sainthood|agency=Catholic News Agency}}</ref>

===Venerables===
* [[Jerzy Ciesielski]] – (1929–1970), Married Layperson of Archdiocese of Kraków; Member (Poland-Egypt)
* [[Maria Orsola Bussone]] – (1954–1970), Young Layperson of Archdiocese of Turin; Member (Italy)
* [[Daniela Zanetta]] – (1962–1986), Young Layperson of the Diocese of Novara; Member (Italy); declared "Venerable": 23 March 2017
* [[Nguyễn Văn Thuận]] – (1928–2002), Bishop of Nha Trang; Cardinal; Associate (Vietnam-Italy)

===Servants of God===
* [[Chiara Lubich]] [Silvia] – (1920–2008), Layperson of the Diocese of Frascati; Founder of the Focolare Movement
* [[Igino Giordani]] [Foco] – (1894–1980), Married Layperson of the Diocese of Frascati; Cofounder (Italy)
* Albertina Violi Zirondoli – (1901–1972), Married Layperson of the Diocese of Fiesole; Consecrated Member (Italy)
* Alberto Michelotti – (1958–1980), Young Layperson of the Archdiocese of Genoa; Member (Italy)
* Carlo Grisolia [Vir] – (1960–1980), Young Layperson of the Archdiocese of Genoa; Member (Italy)
* Maria Cecilia Perrin de Buide – (1957–1985), Married Layperson of the Archdiocese of Bahia Blanca; Member (Argentina)
* Margarita Bavosi [Luminosa] – (1941–1985), Layperson of the Archdiocese of Madrid; Consecrated Member (Argentina-Italy)
* Renata Borlone – (1930–1990), Layperson of the Diocese of Fiesole; Consecrated Member (Italy)
* [[Santa Scorese]] – (1968–1991), Young Layperson of the Diocese of Bari-Bitonto; Associate; Martyr (Italy)
* Dario Porta – (1930–1996), Priest of the Diocese of Parma; Member (Italy)
* Manuel Pascual Perrin – (1925–2000), Married Layperson of the Archdiocese of Bahia Blanca; Member (Argentina)
* {{ill|Ginetta Calliari|pt}} – (1918–2001), Layperson of the Diocese of Osasco; Consecrated Member (Italy-Brazil)
* Domenico Antonio Mangano – (1938–2001), Married Layperson of the Diocese of Albano; Member of the Volunteers of God – Focolare Movement (Italy)

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

== Bibliography ==

* {{Cite journal |last=Bowie |first=Fiona |date=2003 |title=An anthropology of religious experience: spirituality, gender and cultural transmission in the Focolare movement |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0014184032000060362 |journal=Ethnos |volume=68 |issue=1 |pages=49–72 |doi=10.1080/0014184032000060362 |s2cid=144380573 |issn=0014-1844 |accessdate=|url-access=subscription }}
* {{Cite book |last=Urquhart |first=Gordon |url=https://archive.org/details/popesarmada0000urqu |title=The Pope's Armada: Unlocking the Secrets of Mysterious and Powerful New Sects in the Church |date=1999 |publisher=Bantam Press |isbn=9780593033883 |publication-place=London}}
* ''That All May Be One: origins and life of the Focolare Movement'', New City Press, New York, 1969

==External links==
{{Commons category|Focolare Movement}}
* [http://www.livingcitymagazine.com Living City Magazine] magazine published by the Focolare
* [http://www.pagasasocialcenter.org/ Pag-asa Social Center Foundation Inc] one of the social expressions of the Focolare

{{Associations of the Christian faithful}}
{{Catholic Church}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Catholic organizations established in the 20th century]]
[[Category:Christian new religious movements]]
[[Category:International associations of the faithful]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1943]]