‘Arrivederci Maria Voce!’ – young Buddhist student monks say goodbye to Maria Voce.

Chiang Mai – 5 February 2010

There was nothing artificial about it. There was no attempt to superimpose the figure of Chiara on the new President of the Focolare Movement. The Grand Master Ajahn Thong and Luce Ardente have called Chiara ‘mamma’ for a long time, even on official occasions, in recognition of her moral authority.

This was part of the reason why the new President was so eagerly awaited. They welcomed her with the greatest honours and an open heart. The monks followed her, observed her and listened to her attentively, increasingly so. Both when she spoke from a prepared text, but above all when she answered questions spontaneously. ‘She speaks with great strength and vigour’, one monk remarked to all of the participants at the symposium. He is none other than the Vice-rector of the Buddhist university of Bangkok – and it didn’t sound like it was coming just from him.

Phra Maha Sanga Chaiwong was one of the many student monks present at the University in Chiang Mai when Chiara spoke there in 1997. He is now Abbot in one of the city’s monasteries and a much-esteemed lecturer at the same University. ‘Maria Voce resembles Chiara very much,’ he remarked at the end of the meeting between the President and the students, ‘her face, her smile … Thank you for your words, Maria!’

Maria Voce’s response is immediate – ‘I’m just like one of your sisters – with lots of brothers!’ Her smile caresses the young monks and they all agree, nodding their shaven heads, laughing – happy. ‘Arrivederci, Maria Voce!’