Chiara Lubich

Thousands of people came to Rome for the March 18 funeral of Chiara Lubich, the Catholic founder of the Focolare spiritual renewal movement, which has branches in 182 countries and an estimated 2 million adherents. Lubish, 88, a past Templeton Prize winner, died March 14 at Focolare headquarters near Rome.

Many unable to enter the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls watched the service, attended by 15 cardinals and 40 bishops, on large screens set up outside. Vatican sources estimated the crowd at 40,000. Focolare means hearth in Italian, a name chosen to reflect the movement's warmth. Though closely tied to the Catholicism, Focolare attracted followers from other denominations and faiths.

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