Jerusalem: Arab Christian Margaret Karram to head global Focolare movement

Originally from Haifa, she was elected president of the movement founded by Chiara Lubich. She brings with her the experience of dialogue in the Holy Land, where the Focolare have been present since 1977. Her commitment to building an international center for unity and peace

Jerusalem (AsiaNews). The Focolare movement general assembly has elected its new president: Margaret Karram, 58, an Arab Christian from Haifa. The appointment was announced yesterday after confirmation by the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, as required by the general statutes of the movement. She takes the place of Maria Voce, who has been at the head of the movement for 12 years, taking up the baton from the founder Chiara Lubich.

Margaret Karram brings the vivacity of the groups of the Holy Land to the presidency of the focolarini - present today in 182 countries around the world. There are nine communities in Jerusalem, Galilee, the Palestinian territories and Jordan. After encountering the vocation to dialogue and unity typical of the Focolare charism in Haifa, Karram, an Arab, went to study Judaism at the Jewish University of Los Angeles. After returning to the Holy Land, in addition to holding positions of responsibility in the movement, she collaborated with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land and the International Coordinating Council in Israel, the largest Israeli interreligious body.

For her commitment to dialogue between cultures and religions, in 2013 she was awarded the Mount Zion Prize for Reconciliation, awarded to her together with Jewish scholar and researcher Yisca Harani. Since 2014 she has been already carrying out her service in Italy as a councilor of the International Focolare Center.

The vitality of the movement in the Holy Land is linked to a specific desire of the founder Chiara Lubich. In 1956, during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, she was particularly struck by the site of St Peter's Gallicantu, where tradition places the prayer of Jesus "that they may all be one" (Jn 17:21).

In 1977 this intuition materialized in a first presence in the Holy Land that has grown over the years: today there are about 2 thousand people who among Israel, Palestine and Jordan recognize themselves in the focolarina spirituality. Their commitment, as well as in the spiritual formation of local Christians, touches the sphere of encounter and dialogue between Christians, Jews and Muslims through visits, social and recreational activities, common moments of study and prayer for peace.

This commitment, in Jerusalem, should soon take on the face of a physical place near St Peter's in Gallicantu: the planning authorities have approved the construction of an international center for unity and peace that will make Chiara Lubich's dream come true. In addition to welcoming pilgrims, it will also host seminars and conferences on ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, prayer meetings for unity and peace and animation activities for young people, families and educators.