Virtual Event
June 20-23, 2022
The world is emerging from an historic health crisis that has exacerbated existing conflicts, poverty, inequalities, polarization, and threats to the environment. While the pandemic led to unprecedented cooperation and heroic responses by many, it also exposed deficits in leadership and emboldened authoritarians, demagogues, and chauvinistic nationalists. Just as the world hopes to move beyond the pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine threatens global peace in ways thought unimaginable when the pandemic began. The challenge to Catholic peacebuilders is clear: we must ensure that the post-pandemic return to “normal” does not look like the pre-pandemic status quo, or worse. That will require an integral and integrated approach to peace, development and ecology because the cry of war’s victims, the cry of the poor, and the cry of the earth rise as one (Laudato Si’, no. 49).
This conference will convene a wide range of Catholic peacebuilders – Church leaders, scholars, peacebuilding specialists and other practitioners – from around the world. It will allow participants to learn from their rich and diverse experiences in confronting challenges to peace around the world and help them discern new and creative ways to respond to the historic challenges to peace that we now face.
Printable Program (English)
Programme imprimable (français)
Programa imprimible (español)
Session Recordings
Special Presentation Message from Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, Permanent Observer of the Holy See Mission to the United Nations
Plenary 1: Hope in Times of Crisis
Presentation Texts
Special Presentation Message from Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, Permanent Observer of the Holy See Mission to the United Nations
Gerard Powers, Opening Remarks and Welcome
Cardinal Charles Bo, Plenary Address
Scott Appleby, Response to Plenary Address by Cardinal Charles Bo
Alessandra Smerilli, Plenary Address
Thomas Massaro, Shaping a Culture of Peacebuilding Through Spirituality in the Catholic Tradition
John Katunga, Introduction à l' approche 3B4D de CRS
JRS and Boston College, Reconciliation in Adjumani, Uganda
David Hollenbach, What Refugees Can Teach Us About War and Peace
Caritas-Spes, Hundred Days Of War
Loreta Navarro-Castro, Nonviolence, an Essential Basis for Building Peace: A Philippine Perspective
Francisco Hernandez Rojas, Caminando hacia la paz
Media and Publications
The Journal of Moral Theology, special symposium on Catholic Peacebuilding in Times of Crisis
Collen Sharkey, "Catholic peacebuilders bring hope amidst the world’s crises," Notre Dame News
UCA News, "Never give up hope, says Myanmar's Cardinal Bo"
Event Collaborators
- Holy See Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development
- Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame
- Keough School of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame
- Javeriana Pontifical University
- Caritas Colombia/ National Social Pastoral Secretariat
- Catholic Relief Services
- Office of Global Engagement, Boston College
- Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs, Georgetown University
- Office of International Justice and Peace, US Conference of Catholic Bishops
- Center on Religion and Culture, Fordham University
- International Federation of Catholic Universities
- Department of Justice and Peace Studies, University of St. Thomas
- Pax Christi International
- Franciscans International
- Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
- Maria Robinson, MD, Raskob Foundation for Catholic Activities
- Caritas Internationalis
- Sant'Egidio Foundation for Peace and Dialogue
- Las Casas Institute for Social Justice, Blackfriars Hall, University of Oxford
- Institute of Ecumenical Studies, Ukrainian Catholic University
- Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference Parliamentary Liaison Office
- Institut Superieur de Paix et Reconciliation, Catholic University of Bukavu
- School of Conflict Studies, St. Paul University
- Gudorf Chair in Catholic Theology and Culture, University of Dayton
- Department of Peace Studies, College of St. Benedict/St. John's University
- Association of Catholic Universities and Higher Institutes of Africa and Madagascar
- Ansari Institute for Global Engagement with Religion, University of Notre Dame