A narration, with direct testimonies of the journey of the Gen Rosso in Mongolia to follow a musical path along with encounters and closeness to the less fortunate, to who is in great difficulty.

Gen Rosso has experienced many concerts around the world. And yet it had never been to Mongolia. Instead, only a few days ago, the international artistic group lived an experience immersed in art and humanity that reached its peaks in the capital, Ulaan Baatar, on the 1st of December 2024, when the historic group born in Loppiano in 1966 within the Focolare Movement (starting from the desire of its founder, Chiara Lubich) performed in an extraordinary concert mainly in English, but with some Italian and Portuguese, and the interpretation of a song verse “Speranza di Pace” (Hopes of Peace), in Mongolian.

We met some members of the Gen Rosso, and with their help we try to tell you about their immense experience desired by Cardinal Giorgio Marengo, Apostolic Prefect at the head of the young, vibrant Catholic Church in Mongolia, with about 1,500 baptized out of a population of three and a half million.

“We received the invitation by Cardinal Giorgio Marengo—Adelson De Oliveira, a Brazilian singer, told us—and we were enthusiastic and happy for this opportunity that came along. For the very first time, Gen Rosso was going to Mongolia” to meet that “young church made up of youth”—as Marengo defined it—that needs a “young” language to talk to people. Thus, we thought of a concert that would have wanted to include—the youth of the place through dance and singing workshops—continued the Cardinal.

In fact, it wasn’t only an exhibition but a work of the Gen Rosso that lasted for days, during which the word “workshop” was fundamental because, as explained in the press release about the band’s trip to Mongolia, “our desire is always that of promoting and raising a culture of peace and fraternity founded on the values of sharing and tolerance through their workshops and encounters with the people.”.

The workshops were part of the preparation journey towards the concert, with effort and commitment, as well as emotions, beautiful surprises, and new and marvelous relationships. There were 125 youth enrolled in the various Hip-Hop dance, Broadway, Party Dance and Choral Singing workshops, born with the scope of encouraging cultural exchange and unity among the youth, artistically preparing them towards a high-level performance within the concert.

“During the 12 days of our stay in Mongolia,” – explained Dennis Ng, a Filipino singer – the most beautiful part was the direct contact with the people of Mongolia, especially with the youth. Their readiness, their ability of listening and their desire to participate in the workshops were remarkable. They brought about fundamental contributions to the atmosphere of friendship and respect that came about immediately. I was sorry I couldn’t express myself in their language: Failing to freely communicate fascination and respect for their culture”, said Dennis, yet the language of art overcomes any barrier, and the “artistic performance of the dance groups on stage, – he continued – was a real explosion of joy and harmony. You could see this, especially in the youth with disabilities, who participated with others in the final performance. In addition, the choral singing group managed to translate in their own language and sing most of one of the most significant songs of the Gen Rosso, “Speranze di Pace” (Hopes of Peace).

Dennis Ng, along with his experience in the years with the historic musical group, met “the youth of 35 different countries,” and based on his long experience, offered us an encouraging thought: “The youth worldwide have many things in common, including that for which, if looked at, listened to, and appreciated without ulterior motives, simply for what they are, can bring out unexpected qualities”.

A few memories of the big concert held on the 1st of December, the one performed on the stage of the “Corporate Concert Hall,” Adelson De Oliveira himself offered them to us. “It was amazing, of great impact and overwhelming, full of fantasy and harmony. The emotions that touched my heart most were the happy faces of all the youth that we met”.

But the concerts of the Gen Rosso, as I said, are never only music and art. They are also a social commitment. Thus, important are the meetings in Mongolia with the children and elderly, the students, and the loneliest and abandoned people. In particular, those living in different social and institutional realities of the territory, like the orphan children of the “Verbist Care Center,” with whom the Gen Rosso danced and sang, to whom they donated gifts bringing happiness, and the lunch organized with the “homeless” at the “House of Mercy,” the shelter that provides meals and shelter to more than 80 people each week, must be remembered.

Helenio Brito, another Brazilian singer, told us about this moment starting from this premise: “Gen Rosso wants to be present where the people are, everywhere. In their homes, in their work. Especially in the hearts of those who are at the margins of society. We would like to be with the people, without leaving out anyone, treating everyone in the same way, with love”.

Then Brito went through the experience of their visit at the orphanage and the Mercy Home: “For me it was that opportunity, unique, to bring hope, fraternity, and lots of joy through our songs and our presence. I went there with the intention of being a loving glance for each of those children who were not fortunate enough to grow up in a natural family. An experience—continued Brito—that touched me deeply: I felt edified and full of gratitude for being a small gift to those children and their educators”.

On one morning of the long Gen Rosso tour in Mongolia, we were dedicated to the artists of the country: “singing and playing together, using their ethnical instruments, pertaining to their traditions and culture, it was very enriching, other than its concrete sign of sharing through music’s universal language.

We dedicated the last day to an official meeting at the Italian Embassy in Mongolia with the ambassador, Giovanna Piccarreto, who expressed her whole happiness in having had the Gen Rosso in Ulaan Baatar representing Italy, the official headquarters of the International Group”.

For all those who were not able to follow Gen Rosso to Mongolia, to find out how it went and replicate the experience, we are all invited to spend two days in Loppiano, on the 27^th of December by participating in the workshops, and the next day, Saturday 28^th of December, with the big Gen Rosso concert at the Auditorium at 9 p.m.

An event celebrating the 60th anniversary of Loppiano, the first Citadel of the Focolare Movement, founded by Chiara Lubich in 1964.