Building “a new humanity” Requires Responsibility Sharing, Focolare Movement Official Says at UN@80 Conference in Kenya

New Humanity’s initiatives are inspired by the Gospel call to universal brotherhood and echo Pope Francis’ October 2020 Encyclical Letter on fraternity and social friendship, Fratelli Tutti, for a world “open to love and solidarity.”

The UN@80 commemoration provides an opportunity for civil society and faith-based entities to renew their commitment to peace, human dignity, and integral development. For Focolare Movement members, the anniversary is also an invitation to witness fraternity among peoples, serving to demonstrate that the “new humanity” is not a dream but a task shared by all.

In her remarks on November 10, the Vice President of the New Humanity NGO said the anniversary celebration provides youth leaders, city officials, peacebuilders, and global citizens a platform “to reflect on how urban communities can foster inclusive governance and develop community-driven responses to global challenges.”

The gathering, “invites us to imagine cities, communities, and villages as spaces of care, inclusion, and peace,” Catalina said, referring to the three-day event, which is to conclude with a presentation of “a charter of commitment 2025.”

The Ecuadorian national emphasized the significance of having the 80th anniversary of the UN in Africa, a continent she described as “vibrant with life, culture, and wisdom, whose people and communities inspire us to collaborate with renewed energy and determination.”

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The Focolare Movement NGO official said that the New Humanity, founded in 1986, has held consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) since 2005, and has the mission to promote universal fraternity, peace, and human dignity.

“Wherever we are present, we ensure collaboration with the Holy See Mission to advance the dignity of human life,” Catalina said, adding that this is realized through the presentation of “oral statements, engaging in dialogue among NGOs and networks, and building relationships with representatives of many countries.”

She continued, “In doing so, we aim to be the expression of the Focolare Movement, bringing its voices, good practices, and live experiences to the international arena, where we seek to contribute to the policies and the processes that place human relationships, care, and fraternity at the center.”

Catalina further said that among the programs New Humanity supports is Together for a New Africa (T4NA) a network started by former students of Italy-based Sophia University Institute aimed to “empower young leaders in Africa to address the challenges of their communities and to shape in this way the future of their continent through collective leadership (co-leadership), good governance, a Culture of Unity, and the revival of the African ‘Ubuntu’-wisdom.”

She described T4NA, established in 2014, as “a beautiful example of what it means to act for transformation.”

Catalina went on to thank the young people T4NA serves for working and engaging “in a profound process of listening, reflection, and building concrete actions to respond to the challenges of their societies.”

“Let's celebrate together this amazing work that you are carrying forward. Your journey, really, is a living sign that change begins when we dare to look at the reality with hope and act together for the common goal,” the Vice President of the New Humanity NGO of the Focolare Movement said in her introductory remarks at the opening of the gathering, which is set to conclude on November 12.

Nicholas Waigwa is a Kenyan multimedia journalist and broadcast technician with a professional background in creating engaging news stories and broadcasting content across multiple media platforms. He is passionate about the media apostolate and Catholic Church communication.