gathering in a Budapest sports hall marking the 5Oth anniversary of the crushed 1956 Hungarian Revolution against Soviet dominations.
"I believe in unity" a woman and thousands of people sang as they gathered in the sports arena of Budapest to remember the "volunteers of God" a branch of the Focolare Movement, or fireplace, in English.
The group wants to promote a global happy family in which everyone respects and loves each other regardless of religious affiliation or cultural background, something they call “universal fraternity,” or brotherhood.
LONG HISTORY
The Volunteers of God began exactly 50 years ago after Russian troops ended the 1956 Revolution. Religious people, including Christians, decided to respond to the Russian invasion with a global movement which they hoped would invade the world with God’s love.
They were inspired by a radio message of Pope Pius XII, who in a radio message appealed for the defense of peoples’ rights, of justice and liberty.
However the participants never mentioned "Christ" opting instead to identify themselves with "Jesus forsaken", and mentioning the importance of dialogues with other, non-Christian, religions.
NOICE POLLUTION
Those attending the gathering were introduced to people who believe their projects can make a difference. Speakers ranged from a Hungarian Ministry official Mihály Berndt
tackling what he called “the aggression of noises and annoying sounds” to Angela Joo a house wife and mother of three South Korea. She said she has been praying for politicians and encourages them not to fight with each other.
During the conference a plan was launched to influence Politics, Economics, Media and Law as well as a scholarships project aimed at promoting Africa’s social and cultural development. While some are skeptical, the Vatican has encouraged its ideas.
In one of his last letters before leaving the post as the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Angelo Cardinal Sodano told the conference Pope Benedict the XVI greets with affection all those who joined the “Volunteers of God” open meeting in Budapest. He said it contributes to building up "a society that bears witness to one name alone: God." (With BosNewsLife’s Stefan J. Bos reporting from Budapest).
