March 14

I learned with deep emotion the news of the holy death of Chiara Lubich, which has crowned a long and fruitful life marked by her tireless love for Jesus Forsaken. In this hour of painful detachment, I remain affectionately and spiritually close to her relatives and to the entire Work of Mary, and to all those who appreciated her constant commitment for communion in the Church, for ecumenical dialogue and for fraternity among all peoples.

I thank the Lord for the witness of her life, spent in listening to the needs of contemporary society. And, as I entrust her soul to divine mercy that she may be welcomed in the bosom of the Father, I hope that those who have known and met her, admiring the wonders that God has done through her missionary zeal, will follow in her footsteps, maintaining alive her charism.

March 18

I am spiritually participating in the solemn liturgy with which the Christian community accompanies Chiara Lubich in her departure from this earth to enter into the bosom of our Heavenly Father.

There are many reasons for thanking the Lord for the gift given to the Church of this woman of intrepid faith, humble messenger of hope and peace, founder of a vast spiritual family that embraces many fields of evangelization. I would like to thank God for the service that Chiara has rendered to the Church: both a silent and incisive service, always in harmony with the teaching of the Church.

“The popes,” she commented, “have always understood us.” This is because Chiara and the Work of Mary have always tried to respond with gentle faithfulness to every request and desire. The uninterrupted bond between my venerable predecessors—Servants of God Pius XII, Blessed John XXIII, Servant of God Paul VI, John Paul I, and John Paul II—give a concrete witness to this fact.

Moreover, looking at the initiatives that she gave rise to, one could affirm that she had an almost prophetic capacity to intuit and anticipate the thought of the pope in her actions.

Her legacy now passes on to her spiritual family. May the Virgin Mary, a constant model and reference point for Chiara, help each focolarino and focolarina to continue along the same path, contributing to make the Church, as our beloved John Paul II wrote, always more a home and school of communion.

God of hope, welcome the soul of our sister; comfort and sustain the commitment of those who have embraced her spiritual testament. For this, I assure you of a special remembrance in my prayers and send to all those present my Apostolic Blessing.

Benedictus XVI

Full Story published in Living City (May/June 2008), the Focolare Movement's monthly magazine of religion, dialogue and culture