Focolare president favoring Buddhism

On December 7, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI invited Miss Maria Voce, above, president of the Focolare Movement, to be one of the 15 consultors to the newly created Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization.

Focolare is a Italian movement, today spread all over the world, that preaches the unity of all religions. It works for the establishment of a universal brotherhood where all religions would live and work together without discussion of doctrine. By applying this ecumenical principle, the movement grew rapidly after the Council and became one of the characteristic fruits of the "new spirituality" of Vatican II.

Above, you see Maria Voce delivering a message in auditorium of the Rissho Kosei Kai lay Buddhist movement in Japan, on Januay 15, 2010 .

Below, first row left, she receives a symbolic necklace from Buddhist master Ajahn Thong, Thailand 2010; right, with Didi Talwalkar, leader of the Swadhyay movement in Pariwar, India, on November 19, 2009. Second row, Focolare founder Chiara Lubich among Buddhists in Rome, 2004, at the II Christian Buddhist Symposium. Last row, Maria Voce being warmly received by Benedict XVI.

By inviting the Focolare president to be a consultor on his new Pontifical Council, the Pope tacitly introduces the Focolare Movement with its Buddhist hues into the Holy See . If we add this to the approval given on January 20, 2012 to the Neocatechumenal Way with its Protestant tendencies, we have the semi-officialization of these movements. This may serve to bring a new dynamism to the stagnant Vatican ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue and to energize the establishment of a Pan-religion.