Strength in meekness: Mattarella in Trento remembers Chiara Lubich

Mattarella Emmaus

The president of the Republic gave a very passionate speech at the event "Trento meets Chiara Lubich", last Saturday 25th January in Cadine. The president of the Focolare Movement, Maria Voce, welcomed him; together with the local authorities and many citizens. Speeches, testimonies, and videos about Chiara's life were perfectly mixed within the framework of an artistic event, directed by Fernando Muraca.

The president of the Autonomous Province of Trento, Maurizio Fugatti, defined Chiara "an excellence of this land"; a land which has three defining characteristics - the willpower of its people, the cooperative movement, and its being historically a border territory. "Chiara was an outstanding representative of our territory and of the sense of belonging to it, which is a distinctive feature of our autonomy and of our specificity" said Fugatti. The archbishop of Trento, most reverend Lauro Tisi, gave thanks to his predecessor Carlo De Ferrari for acknowledging "God's hand" in the spirituality of Chiara Lubich; and pointed out that "if today this charism embraces the whole of humanity, we owe it to this bishop who protected it". The mayor of Trento, Alessandro Andreatta, expressed his joy in remembering "the girl who, almost eighty years ago, put herself at the service of the poor"; and still "keeps on inviting us to be open and welcoming, to commit ourselves to work for and with the others. Because Chiara's experience was never a personal or an isolated and solitary one, but a commitment which can be understood only within the paradigm of relationship".

Some representatives of the Focolare Movement then shared their stories, which testify how Chiara Lubich's charism is still an inspiration for many people in everyday life. Amy Uelman, a law professor at Georgetown University in Washington, educates her students to face even divisive arguments avoiding confrontation; firm managers Lawrence Chong e Stanislaw Lencz are committed to building a more inclusive and sustainable economy; doctors Arthur Ngoy e Florance Mwanabute treat those who can't afford medical care and organise health training programs in Congo; and a group of Italian youth welcomed like a brother and still support Yacine, a migrant from Algeria.

"The light that Chiara gave to us shines beyond the borders of the Focolare Movement, and encourages and inspires many prople of good will all over the world, as this anniversary testifies" said Maria Voce, president of the Focolare. "Like each of you, I feel the presence of Chiara, live and active every day. She pushes us to put out into the deep with courage". And urged everyone "to respond with radicalism and with the extremism of dialogue to the society of our times, which seems to be without roots and without a destination".

The long and passionate speech of president Mattarella closed the event. The head of the State identified in fraternity, implemented in the political and civil field, the distinctive feature of the spirituality of Chiara Lubich. A fraternity which is "a foundation of civilization and a major force for good and well-being", as without it "we lack the strength to eradicate inequality and heal social wounds". Chiara Lubich, putting forward a culture of dialogue - and especially interreligious dialogue, "which is decisive for peace in our times", had sensed "with a spirit of prophecy" that this was the path to be followed. A teaching which proves that “we can be very strong, and yet meek and open to the arguments of others: indeed, as the life of Chiara Lubich proves, this is the only way of being strong".

Photos and videos of the event are available on https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NYHxdxGVgCDi_-cl8W-H644m34v0enNn?usp=sharing and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REzYa3surio