Karram was born in Haifa, Israel, in 1962 into a Catholic Palestinian family. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Jewish Studies from the American Jewish University in Los Angeles (USA). She has held various positions of leadership for the Focolare communities in Los Angeles and Jerusalem.

Her past experience includes membership in various commissions and organizations that promote dialogue among the three monotheistic religions, such as in the Episcopal Commission for Interreligious Dialogue, the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land, and the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel. She worked for 14 years at the Italian Consulate in Jerusalem.

Since 2014, Karram has been at the International Center of the Focolare as councilor for Italy and Albania, sharing responsibility for dialogue among ecclesial movements and new Catholic communities.

She speaks Arabic, Hebrew, Italian and English. In 2013, she received the Mount Zion Award for Reconciliation, together with the Jewish scholar and researcher Yisca Harani, for their commitment to developing dialogue among different cultures and religions.

In 2016, she received the St. Rita International Award for promoting dialogue among Christians, Jews, Muslims, Israelis, and Palestinians.

Can you share with us a significant episode from your life?

One, among many, was when I was five years old. Our house was in the city of Haifa, in the region of Galilee. It was the only non-Jewish home in that whole neighborhood. So whenever I would go out to play, there would be all the Jewish children around me.

I remember that they often made fun of me. Once, they teased me so much that I went home crying, because I really felt hurt and angry. I told myself that I would never play with them again.

But my mom said: “Okay. Now, dry your tears, go outside, and call those children who are out there and invite them to come to our house.”

I still remember that moment as if it were yesterday. I had to swallow my pride and anger, dry my tears and ask those children to come over. When they arrived, my mom was making bread, and she gave each child one of those traditional round Arab breads.

The children went home and brought the bread to their parents. Because of this small gesture, the mothers of those children wanted to meet the family that gave them the bread, so that they could express their gratitude.

So for me, this event has been emblematic in my life. It taught me that it is not words, but a small gesture of love toward a neighbor — even one who is different from me, who may also be my enemy — that can dissipate fear and build peace. That is what a small action taught me.

What do you think this election of yours might mean to those in your country? How did Palestinians and Jewish people react to this news?

I think their reaction was one of great joy, and I’d say, also of great pride. Many wrote to me: ecclesiastical authorities, the patriarch, also authorities from various Christian churches.

Many Jewish friends wrote to me too, congratulating me and rooting for me.

They told me: “Take courage! We are with you. We know you, and so we will support you.” I think that they feel a great sense of gratitude, but above all, a great joy.

What was this Assembly like for you?

I immediately felt that I had to take on this responsibility. Yet I had the sense that I was not alone. Yes, I immediately realized that this is a huge responsibility, but I am not alone.

There is an entire body of people who have made themselves available, who assured me of my hope (which I had expressed) that it would not be a single person to govern this Movement, but a group of people who will keep the presence of Jesus in their midst. He will be the one to guide the Movement. So this is an experience that I already feel is ongoing.

The new generation is already adopting a cultural paradigm shift, especially regarding the theme of climate change. This was also discussed during the Assembly — so what is the Focolare going to do about it?

Yes, it was one of the highest priority topics discussed at the Assembly, and I believe that the next generation feels it very strongly. We have to support them strongly in this goal.

For the moment, let’s see how this topic will be addressed in the final document that will come out shortly. There will certainly be a common commitment to do something tangible, especially in the care for creation.

We also need to continue the many projects that we are already doing with young people, for example, in their campaign, “Dare to care.”

I foresee that around the world, we will take concrete action, which we are already doing, but to adopt them as a way of life. We have to make it a lifestyle shift, so that we can implement things not only locally but also on a worldwide level.

What are some of the challenges and untapped potential resources in the Focolare? What in particular would you like to aim for in the next few years?

Good question! At this moment, I feel that a big challenge for the Movement — if I may — is a deficit in the “culture of trust.” I say this in a spirit of great mercy, but I feel that this is a big challenge for the Focolare, because there is still a “culture of suspicion,” in some way.

I feel that we need to overcome this challenge, by loving more, among us, among all members of the Focolare, so as to make the culture of trust, the culture of love, triumph.

You have worked closely with associations, movements, ecclesial groups, both in Italy and abroad. For you, what does “working together” really mean?

It means many things. For me, these past six years have been an enriching experience. I saw that when we really work together, there is an added grace. There is further enrichment because we discover the gifts that we are for each other.

And when we work together, either for a project, or just to be together, or to participate in each other’s activities, you feel that you are a bigger gift for the Church.

All these charisms are a gift for the Church. The more we work together, the more we can be a witness to the world of the beauty of unity and the riches of the various charisms. This is my experience in a nutshell.

Interview by Aurora Nicosia