About us

Leaders of various Movements and Communities, Catholic and Evangelical, from Italy and Germany arrived in Augsburg (Germany) on the occasion of the historic signing of the “Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification” on 31 October 1999. In the afternoon of the same day, they meet in the nearby Ecumenical Centre in Ottmaring. They experienced a deep communion with each other and felt the urge to start a journey together.

At the ‘Treffen von Verantwortlichen’ (Conference of Leaders) in Rothenburg o.d.T. (Germany) in March, Lutheran Bishop Ulrich Wilckens and Chiara Lubich spoke about the ‘division of Christians as the cause of atheism’ and ‘mutual love as the way to unity’. Then a prophetic event took place: they asked each other forgiveness on behalf of their Church or Movement for past wrongs. It was an act of contrition and mutual forgiveness and reconciliation ensued. Living as reconciled is an important premise for Togetherness.

On the morning of 8 December, 800 leaders of Movements and Communities from different Churches met in Munich in the Evangelical Church of St Matthew. At the spontaneous invitation of Chiara Lubich, Helmut Nicklas and Father Michael Marmann, those present made a pact of mutual love (cf. Jn 13:34). It became the basis for everything that has grown so far on the path of Togetherness. In the afternoon of the same day, around 5,000 members and friends of Communities and Movements gathered in the cathedral and perceived each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.

In order to get to know some Catholic Movements better – in the spirit of the pact made – some Evangelicals from the “Treffen von Verantwortlichen” (Conference of Leaders) set off for Rome. During these meetings, the realisation emerged that there are many Communities and Movements in the European countries. The idea was born: let’s give visibility to this experience of brotherhood lived on the European continent. This is how the network, which was then called Together for Europe, took off.

In June, representatives from Germany and Italy gathered in Berlin (Germany) to give substance to the idea. They took the decision to invite members of Movements and Communities from different Churches throughout Europe for a large meeting in Stuttgart (Germany). Thus began the preparations for the first Together for Europe event. An international ‘Steering Committee’ was spontaneously formed for this purpose.

The ‘Together for Europe 2004′ event had two stages. On 6 and 7 May the Congress took place with the theme ‘Discovering spiritual riches together and sharing them’. Around 2,000 people from many countries in Europe participated.

More than 9,000 people from 186 different Communities and Movements gathered in the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle on 8 May. They wanted to make a contribution toward a united Europe, a unity in the multiplicity of cultures and confessions. The Manifestation was broadcasted via satellite all over the world: in 163 parallel events another 100,000 people could follow. This gave rise to the Togetherness of Movements and Communities also in other parts of the world …

At the second event with the title ‘Together for Europe’, again in Stuttgart, the number of Communities and Movements involved rose to 250. The two-day Congress, on 10 and 11 May, took place under the title ‘Together on the way’; the experiences made so far together were reflected upon and the communion between all was strengthened. In the big event on 12 May it was highlighted that the Movements and Communities were committed to the protection of life and creation, to the promotion of the family, to solidarity with the poor, to peace and a fair economy, and that they are ready to take responsibility in society. All this finds expression in the final message through the 7 YESes. As in 2004, parallel demonstrations took place all over Europe…

In December 2007, the first ‘Friends of Together for Europe’ meeting was held for in Castel Gandolfo (Rome). It was attended by the leaders of Movements and Communities that support the ecumenical network or their representatives on a European level. Since then, the meeting has been held every year, in a different country; it serves to strengthen the communion between those responsible, to address current issues and to guide the action of Together for Europe. During the pandemic it was held twice in online mode.

In the meantime, a journey of Togetherness between Communities and Movements has started in many cities. To promote it, the first national events were held in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Northern Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary.

On 9 November, the ‘bases of communion’ were signed in the St. Egidio headquarters in Rome.

A Together for Europe event took place on 12 May in Brussels, near the EU headquarters. In parallel, local meetings and events were held in more than 150 cities in 22 European countries. At the end of the day, with a Live-Streaming everyone was connected to Brussels for a common conclusion; the 2012 Manifesto was read out.

In view of the 500th anniversary of Luther’s Reformation, on 2 July 2016 an event in Munich, entitled ‘Encounter. Reconciliation. Future.”, publicly showed the desire for unity. Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew I sent meaningful messages; testimonies of reconciliation resounded loudly. More than 5,000 people from different European countries were present in the square, and there were more than 7,000 live-streaming locations in 7 languages. Here the final message>

The event was preceded by a Congress (30.6-1.7.) with 1,700 participants from over 200 Movements and Communities from 32 countries. 17 forums and 19 panel discussions reflected upon the burning challenges that Europe is facing today.

On the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the Treaties of Rome, a large ecumenical prayer vigil was held in the Basilica of the Holy Apostles in Rome, presided over by Card. Kurt Koch, and attended by David M. Sassoli, the future president of the European Parliament. The strong participation of the people, civil and ecclesiastical personalities provided the backdrop for an intense celebration.

In 56 other European cities, similar moments of prayer were held with solemnity.

A proposal by Dutch and Italian Friends – which emerged the year before during the Friends of Together for Europe meeting in Vienna – took concrete form for the first time: to choose 9 May, Europe Day, as the date on which to publicly express and testify to the ideas and values that motivate our network.

Since then, a wide variety of initiatives have taken place every year around this date in many cities, both in presence and online, at local, national or cross-border level.

20 years after its inception, the leaders of the ecumenical network met where it began, in the Ecumenical Centre in Ottmaring and then in the Augsburg Town Hall. Days of stocktaking and looking forward, of gratitude for the path travelled, of new vision and awareness of important challenges.

Over the years, national committees, now present in 9 European countries, and many local committees have developed.

In this year the ‘Friends of Together for Europe’ meeting took place in Timisoara, Romania, one of Europe’s cultural capitals. For the first time there was a meeting in a country with an Orthodox majority, in a multicultural, multilingual, multi-faith city. The presence of young people, bishops of various Churches and politicians characterised the meeting, which was never before so numerous.