Budapest 50 Years Later<br/><br/>
Volunteers of God who are members of the Focolare Movement celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Hungarian Uprising on September 14 to 16. The theme of the celebration was “50 years at the service of humanity”. Over ten thousand people over 92 countries participated: 3,800 from Italy, 600 from Asia, 170 from Middle East, 1,300 from North and South America, 130 from Africa and 40 from Australia.<br/><br/>
The Soviet Union’s military forces invaded Budapest in November 1956. At that time, Pope Pius XII summoned humanity to put God, the root of law, justice and freedom, back into our parliaments, homes and offices. In 1957 in response to the Pope’s petition, Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolare Movement, started to promote organizations primarily made up of “volunteers of God”. The word “volunteer” was used because “love” is always voluntary.<br/><br/>
Fifty years later, “volunteers of God” have spread the “love of humanity” in the society across many levels; for example, promoting “economy of communion” in the economy, and striving towards the idea of “unity in politics”, meaning “your party’s priorities are also my party’s priorities”.<br/><br/>
In order to build a new world, every one of us has responsibilities. As long as we, united, follow Jesus’ steps one by one and even endure suffering as Jesus has bear the crucifix, peace will be at hand.<br/><br/>
For details, please visit http://budapest2006.focolare.org.