Chiara Lubich, born Silvia Lubich on January 22, 1920, in Trento, Italy, was a significant figure in modern Catholicism, best known for founding the Focolare Movement, which promotes unity and universal fraternity. Raised in a working-class family, she experienced hardship when her socialist father lost his job due to his political beliefs. Despite these challenges, she pursued philosophy studies at the University of Venice while teaching at a primary school in her hometown. In 1943, amidst the turmoil of World War II, she chose to dedicate her life to God, seeing in this commitment an unshakable ideal in the face of destruction.

This spiritual dedication led her to establish the Focolare Movement, aiming to fulfill Jesus' prayer: "That they may all be one." She and her early companions sought to live the Gospel radically by sharing their possessions with the poor and fostering reconciliation. In 1948, she met Igino Giordani, a politician and writer, who became a co-founder of the movement, enriching it with a broader social and spiritual perspective. In 1956, she created the "Volunteers of God," a group of laypeople engaged in various sectors of society to promote fraternity, and in 1966, she launched the "Gen Movement" to inspire young people to live according to these ideals.

Her work earned her numerous international recognitions, including the Templeton Prize in 1977, the UNESCO Prize for Peace Education in 1996, and the European Human Rights Award in 1998. She also received multiple honorary doctorates worldwide. Chiara Lubich passed away on March 14, 2008, in Rocca di Papa, near Rome. In recognition of her spiritual and social impact, the Catholic Church opened her cause for beatification in 2015.