Città Nuova – Spirituality Festival (Rome)

A festival of essential words in the heart of Rome

The Spirituality Festival, promoted by Città Nuova magazine and the Focolare Movement, is a recurring event held at the Focolare Meeting Point on Via del Carmine 3, in Rome, Lazio. Located just a stone's throw from Piazza Venezia and the Imperial Forums, the festival uses an intimate setting that encourages deep listening. It presents public meetings where spirituality is not just for specialists, but a lens through which to view daily life: work, family, the city, and our relationships.

The format: a dialogue, not a lecture

Each session lasts about ninety minutes and brings together two or three voices from different fields—a religious figure, a scholar, a healthcare professional, or a communications expert—moderated by a journalist. There are no formal lectures: audience questions are integrated into the heart of the meeting, shaping its direction. This format has built a loyal following among local residents, university students, and the many pilgrims and visitors passing through the capital.

Thematic cycles and continuity

The festival is organized into cycles: each season revolves around a guiding theme explored through several meetings over the months. The 2024-2025 cycle was dedicated to Words of Hope, in harmony with the Jubilee year, and featured three sessions: forgiveness, dialogue, and new generations. The following cycle shifted focus to proximity, exploring the concrete quality of the bonds we build every day.

• Free admission, with participation confirmation requested via email.
• Limited seating: booking a few days in advance is recommended.
• Late afternoon meetings, compatible with work schedules.
• Speakers from pontifical universities, the psychological field, and journalism.

Why it makes sense in Rome

Rome is a city where the religious dimension is monumental: basilicas, domes, and Jubilee routes are everywhere. The Spirituality Festival takes the opposite approach, choosing a smaller scale—a room seating about a hundred people on a side street in the Trevi district. The result is an experience far removed from mass religious tourism: you enter as a stranger and leave having discussed topics that rarely find space elsewhere. For those visiting the capital, it is also a way to meet Romans in a non-touristy setting.

The Focolare Movement and Città Nuova

The Focolare Movement, born from the intuition of Chiara Lubich, has made dialogue—between Christian denominations, between religions, and with those who have no faith—one of its hallmarks. Città Nuova magazine, its historic editorial voice, brings the same approach to the festival: the meetings are designed to be accessible even to non-believers, and personal testimonies take precedence over doctrinal discourse. This choice explains the diverse audience that flocks to the events.

Around the event

The Focolare Meeting Point is located in a highly walkable area: the Church of the Gesù, the Vittoriano, Trajan's Markets, and the Campidoglio are all less than a ten-minute walk away. Many participants combine the meeting with an evening stroll through the historic center or dinner at one of the local spots in the Monti district, just to the east. The festival does not feature structured side activities, but the informal conversation that follows each meeting is an integral part of the experience.