The Synod on the Word

Dear Readers,

In October a significant event took place in Rome that received very little attention in the media.

It focused on a topic that is central to our magazine and to the Focolare: the Word of God and the impact it has on our lives.

From October 5-26, the 12th General Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops brought together 253 bishops from all over the world with numerous men and women experts and auditors.

“All of us,” Pope Benedict said, “experience the need to place the Word of God at the center of our lives, to make the light of Christ illumine every part of our life: the family, school, culture, the workplace, leisure time, and all other sectors of society and our lives.”

Instituted by Pope Paul VI during Vatican II, synods are a “coming together” in Christ of people and cultures to foster collaboration between the pope and the bishops and to consider timely, important topics.

A “fitting accompaniment” to the Synod was a Bible-reading marathon. Broadcast by the Italian TV network RAI and online (labibbiagiornoenotte.rai.it), the Bible was read over an entire week from beginning to end in various languages. It took 1250 readers from 37 countries and 139 hours to read its 73 books, from Genesis to Revelation.

The readers were of different ages (one as young as 11), of different social backgrounds and religions, famous people and regular folks, three blind people and some detainees from a nearby prison, athletes and representatives of movements and groups. Among them was the Focolare’s president, Maria Voce, who read chapter 17 of John’s Gospel. The chapter, containing Jesus’ prayer for unity, was considered by Chiara Lubich the Magna Carta of the movement she founded. It is unity, in fact, that guides all our efforts in favor of dialogue and reconciliation.

We hope these pages offer inspiring models and examples of unity in the making.