On Sunday, 10th November 2019, at 4.30 pm in the St Peter's Cathedral in Frascati, Rome, the diocesan phase of the the cause of beatification and canonisation of Chiara Lubich ended with a closing ceremony. The ceremony was held by the bishop of Frascati, Most Rev. Raffaello Martinelli. Maria Voce, president of the Focolare Movement, was present.

With the definitive closure of this phase, all the documents of the inquiry have been sealed and sent to the Vatican. This follows almost five years of investigations and research into Chiara Lubich’s life, virtues, reputation for holiness and signs thereof. After this stage, the study of the documents will continue at the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. The process initiating the cause started on 7th December 2013 - five years after Chiara Lubich’s death - with the presentation of the official request to the Bishop of Frascati by the Focolare Movement. On 27th January 2015, Bishop Martinelli responded to the request by solemnly opening the cause. On that occasion Pope Francis sent a message in which he recalled the shining example of life of the founder of the Focolare Movement to those who "preserve her precious spiritual heritage." He also urged the Focolare "to make known to the people of God the life and works of the one who, by accepting the invitation of the Lord, lit up for the Church a new light on the path to unity."