PRESS RELEASE OF FEBRUARY 27, 2026
From March 1 to 21, 320 representatives from Focolare Movement communities around the world will participate in the fourth General Assembly since the death of its founder, Chiara Lubich. The Assembly will elect new members to the governing body and approve the program guidelines for the next five years.
According to Article 1 of the Regulations of the General Assembly of the Focolare Movement, participants will experience this gathering in profound communion, to strengthen unity throughout the Movement and guide it toward the achievement of its goals. The Assembly is, in fact, one of the most significant events for the Focolare Movement and is held every five years, as established by the Decree of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life (2021).
It will be held at the Mariapolis Center in Castel Gandolfo (Rome), where 320 participants—including approximately 50 observers—are arriving from different countries, cultures, and ecclesial and religious backgrounds. They are united by their adherence to the spirit and values of the Movement founded by Chiara Lubich (1920-2008) and recognized by the Catholic Church as a private, universal association of pontifical right.
The program
The Assembly will begin with a three-day spiritual retreat. On March 5, the current president, Margaret Karram, will present her end-of-term report, accompanied by reflections from co-president Jesús Morán. The following days will alternate between plenary sessions and working groups of 30 participants, dedicated to exploring the themes received from Focolare communities worldwide.
The arguments guiding this work will focus on how to implement the charism, that is, how to create relationships of fraternity and unity in the current global context through a commitment to peace and social justice, dialogue in a polarized world, the responsible use of technology, dialogue as a privileged instrument among Christian Churches and with people of different faiths and non-religious beliefs, integral ecology, and participatory governance. One of the themes will also be the transmission of the Focolare charism to future generations of the Movement. In addition, discussion sessions are planned on proposed amendments to the General Statutes and the Regulations of the Movement's various branches.
The day of March 12 will be dedicated to the election of the president and co-president, positions which—according to the General Statutes of the Focolare Movement—must be confirmed by the Holy See. Subsequently, on March 15, the Assembly will elect the General Councilors, thus completing the formation of the Movement's new government.
Towards the General Assembly: a global process
To prepare for this Assembly, Focolare communities in 150 countries participated in an extensive process of listening and synodal discernment, contributing ideas and priorities for the future. This resulted in hundreds of contributions on key issues and the challenges the Movement is facing internally and in the global context. The territorial communities also expressed their preferences regarding candidates for leadership positions within the Movement.
News and updates on the work of the Assembly will be available on the Focolare website and in upcoming press releases.
Stefania Tanesini
Spokesperson for the Focolare Movement
+39 338 5658244
