biography
| sex:
| female
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| lived:
| (1920– )
|
| biography:
| Humanitarian, born in Trento, NE Italy. She studied philosophy at the University of Venice and began work as a school teacher. At the age of 23, she decided to follow God, and founded the Focolare Movement, an alternative to the cloistered existence imposed on women who became Catholic nuns. Her community of female workers dedicated itself to serving the poor in Trento and surrounding areas, and soon expanded to include men and married people. As the movement spread, further communities were established around the world, and she also worked ceaselessly to unite Catholics and Protestants. Awards in recognition of her lifelong dedication include the Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion (1977), the UNESCO Peace Education Prize (1996), and the European Prize for Human Rights (1998). |
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