Centesimus Annus Pro-Pontifice Foundation General Assembly and International Conference 2026

28th – 29th and 30th May 2026
PROGRAMS

Thursday 28th May FCAPP
General Assembly

Pontificio Collegio Internazionale Maria Mater Ecclesiae Largo Girolamo Minervini 3, Rome

Renewing the Vision of Centesimus Annus:

Catholic Social Thought Facing the Challenges to Freedom and Pluralism

9.00 – 10.00: Holy Mass

10.00 – 10.05 Welcome and Introduction: Paolo Garonna, President FCAPP

“A General Assembly structured as a corporate and spiritual retreat, inspired by the Synodal method and aiming at renewing the vision of Centesimus Annus”.

10.05 – 10.20 Meditation: H.E. Msgr. Claudio Maria Celli, FCAPP International Ecclesiastical Counsellor.

10.20 – 10.40 Key-note Address: H.E. Msgr. Giordano Piccinotti, President of APSA “How to provide leadership and build consensus in diverse and pluralistic societies?”

10.40 – 11.40. The Encyclical Centesimus Annus by St. John Paul II: its historical importance and its relevance for today’s threats and aspirations.

• Sr. Nathalie Becquart, xmcj, Undersecretary to the General Secretariat for the Synod:”Post-conflict reconciliation and peacebuilding: synodal processes and spiritual conversations”.
• Flavio Felice, Professor, University of Molise: “How to respond to the ‘democratic recession’, secularization and the attacks on religious freedom”.

• H.E. Card. George Jacob Koovakad, Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue: “Progress in Ecumenical and Interreligious Dialogue in the time of the geopolitical crisis”.

11.40 – 11.50. “2025-2026 Annual Report on the State of the Centesimus Annus Foundation”, Oliver Galea, FCAPP Secretary General.

11.50 – 12.05 “The themes of the Parallel Sessions”, Giovanni Marseguerra, FCAPP Scientific Committee Coordinator.

12.05 – 14.15 Parallel Sessions (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H):

Session A: Le origini della Centesimus Annus e della FCAPP: lezioni dalla storia Organizers: Fabio Fedi (FCAPP past Board Member).

Speakers: Stefano BaieF (Historian and writer), Fr. Nazario Costante (FCAPP

Ecclesiastical Counsellor, Milan Chapter), Costantino Coros (Journalist, FCAPP Press officer), Flavio Felice (Professor, University of Molise), Paolo Galardi (Presidente Soges Group Firenze, FCAPP past Board Member), Massimo Gattamelata (FCAPP

past Secretary General, Rome Chapter), Gianluigi Longhi (FCAPP past Board

Member), Pietro Luigi Polidori (Presidente CdA Link Campus University, Rome), Lorenzo Rossi di Montelera (FCAPP past President, Torino Chapter), Alberto Neri (FCAPP Bologna Chapter), Fr. Francesco Pesce (FCAPP Ecclesiastical Counsellor, Rome Chapter), Anna Maria Tarantola (FCAPP past President, Milan Chapter),

AFlio Tranquilli (FCAPP past Board Member).

Session B: Research and Training on Catholic Social Doctrine: New Topics, Gaps and Opportunities.

Organizers: John Dalla Costa (Ethics, trust consultant and writer).

Keynote Speaker: Fr. Daniel Groody (Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Vice President Notre Dame University, USA).

Speakers: Paola Albrito (Director, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction – UNDRR), Giovanni Ferri (Professor at LUMSA Pontifical University, Rome FCAPP Chapter), Giovanni Leonardi (Departmental Head One Health, Italian Health Ministry, Rome), Mauro Mauri (Psychiatrist, University of Pisa), Mary Glen Tupas (International Justice Mission, Philippines and Australia), Stephen Young (Caux Round Table for Moral Capitalism, USA, FCAPP Advisory Board Member).

Session C: How to Expand and Spread FCAPP Membership among Young People. Organizers: Gert-Jan Boon (Coordinator FCAPP Young Members Group, The Netherlands), Cristina Finocchi Mahne (Professor Catholic University of Milan, FCAPP Scientific Committee Member).

Keynote Speaker: Fr. Alexis Leproux (President, Institut Catholique de la Méditerranée, Marseille).

Speakers: Federico Bonomi (FCAPP Rome Chapter), Carlo Del Buono (FCAPP Young Member, Malta), Minerva Freda (LUISS University, Rome), Sofia Horsfall (FCAPP Young Member, Founder Officine Italia), Donatella Marazziti (Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Pisa), Sebastian Panreck (Ludwig-Erhard-Forum, FCAPP scholarship award winner), Mary Webb (Lumen Gentium Forum, Toronto).

Session D: Fund Raising: How to Channel Resources towards FCAPP and Support the Holy Father’s Charitable Activities.

Organizer: Josef Bonnici (Professor in Economics, former Governor of The Central Bank of Malta).

Speakers: Patrick Brennan (Private and alternatives finance expert, London), Eddie Catalfamo (Global CEO & Strategic Orchestrator Cataltheia Group Inc., USA), Antonio Circosta, (International Business Lawyer, FCAPP Member), Stephanie zu Loewenstein (FCAPP Germany Chapter), Riccardo Rapezzi (Presidente Fondo Assistenza Sanitaria FASDAC, Florence/Rome), Alessandro Rizzo (FCAPP Rome Chapter), Mario Rusack van Rossum (FCAPP Germany Chapter), Simone Scettri (FCAPP Board of Directors Member), Francesco Vanni d’Archirafi (FCAPP Board of Directors Member, London Chapter).

Session E: How to Expand and Spread FCAPP Membership in Vulnerable Countries and Communities.

Organizer: Thomas Rusche (FCAPP Advisory Board Member, FCAPP Germany Chapter).

Speakers: Fr. Albert Alejo (Pontifical University Gregoriana), David Chaboryot (FCAPP Kenya Chapter, Nairobi), Lawrence Chong (Consultor at Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, CEO Consulus Group, Singapore), Francesco Giani (FCAPP San Miniato Chapter), Benjamin Lee (FCAPP Hong Kong Chapter), Ondrej Socuvka (FCAPP Slovakia Chapter), Carla Stamegna (Head of Representative Office Bank of Italy, Brussels), Domingo Sugranyes Bickel (FCAPP past President, Madrid Chapter), Fr. Oleh Zymak CSsR (Greek Catholic Redemptorist priest, Kiev, Ukraine).

Session F: Communication and Evangelization in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, Social Media and Fake News.

Organizer: Giacomo Mazzone (FCAPP Advisory Board Member).

Keynote Speaker: Msgr. Lucio Adrian Ruiz (Secretary to the Dicastery for Communication).

Speakers: Didier Barbé (Senior Advisor, governance committee MEDEF, former IBM executive, Paris), Matt Connors (President, Yellow Line Digital, USA), Ezequiel del Corral (Film Director, Aldeas Scholas Films, Argentina/Rome), Benedetta Liberatore (Director of the Digital Services and Protection of Fundamental Rights AGCOM, Rome), Adam Nurek (Film Producer, Germany/Poland), Johannes Studinger (Head of Department at UNI Global Union, Brussels).

Session G: Peacebuilding and Post-conflict Reconciliation: Practical Experience and Implications for the Integration of Migrants and Interreligious Dialogue.

Organizers: Sr. Nathalie Becquart xmcj (Under-Secretary to the General Secretariat for the Synod), Christophe Deage (FCAPP Luxembourg Chapter).

Speakers: Vincenzo Bassi (President, Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe, Rome/Brussels), Fr. James Channan (Director Peace Centre, Lahore Pakistan), Fr. Josep Maria Serrano (Professor ESADE, Barcelona), Cesare Trevisani (President, Joint Italian Arab Chamber of Commerce, FCAPP Advisory Board Member), Fr. Marcel Uwineza (Principal, Hekima University College, Nairobi, Kenya).

Session H: Social Cohesion and Dialogue in the Community and the Economy: How can Catholic Social Thought Contribute to Avoiding and/or Overcoming Polarizations.

Organizer: Giovanni Marseguerra (Professor Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Coordinator of the FCAPP Scientific Committee, Milan).

Keynote Speakers: Giovanni Farese (Università Europea di Roma), Sebastiano Nerozzi (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan).

Speakers: Frederick Fakharzadeh (FCAPP Board Member, USA Chapter), Fr. Gianni Fusco (Professor at LUMSA Pontifical University, FCAPP past Ecclesiastical Counsellor for Italy), Maurizio Gallo (FCAPP Board Member, Padova Chapter), Paolo Magnolfi (Presidente Associazione Nuova Camaldoli), Adrian Pabst (University of Kent, Secretary to the FCAPP Scientific Committee, UK).

14.15 – 15.30 Working Lunch

15.30 – 16.45 Parallel Sessions (continuation)

16.45 – 18.15: Plenary Session: Presentation of the group discussions by the Rapporteurs and general discussion.

18.15 – 18.35 Conclusions: H.E. Msgr. Andrea Migliavacca (FCAPP Ecclesiastical Counsellor for Italy): “What does it take to promote freedom, responsible leadership and constructive dialogue? The Role of Spirituality”.

18.35 – 18.45 Sum up and follow up

FCAPP 2026 International Conference

Friday 29^th May 2026

New Synod Hall, Vatican City

A Fragmented World in Search of Spirituality: Freedom and Pluralism from Within the Social Doctrine of the Church

8.00 – 9.00. Holy Mass

9.00 – 9.05. Welcome: Paolo Garonna, President FCAPP

9.05 – 9.10. Presentation of the Conference topics: Giovanni Marseguerra, Coordinator of the FCAPP Scientific Committee.

9.10 – 9.25. Keynote Address: Sr. Alessandra Smerilli, Secretary to the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development: “The historical importance of the Encyclical Centesimus Annus and its continuing relevance for today’s challenges”.

9.25 – 11.15: First Plenary Session: How Spirituality Enlightens Personal Development and Community Engagement.

Moderator: Barbara Carfagna, Journalist and TV conductor, Italian Public Services Broadcaster (RAI).

Panel discussion:

• Philip Jennings, Secretary General of UNI Global Union, Union of workers at global level and with international organizations, Nyon, Switzerland.
• Fr. Peter Klasvogt, Theologian, Rector of the Campo Santo Teutonico, Vatican.
• Etienne de Rocquigny, Expert in Artificial Intelligence and Business Leader, Marseille, France.
• Francesco Valeriani, Psychiatrist, President of the Italian Society of Training in Psychiatry, Rome.

11.15 – 11.30. Keynote Address: Giuseppe De Rita, President of CENSIS: “The Spirituality Foundations of Integral Human Development from L. J. Lebret to the Fratelli Tutti”.

11.30 – 13.30: Parallel Sessions (PS)

PS 1. Artificial Intelligence, Freedom and Spirituality: Can AI Enhance Freedom, Pluralism and the Search for Spirituality? Under what conditions?

Organizers: Augustin Destremau (Rerum Novarium, Marseille), Paul Twomey (Co-Chair, Global Initiative for Digital Empowerment, Australia).

Speakers: Gabriele Carboni (Entrepreneur and author in digital marketing and sustainability, FCAPP Bologna Chapter), Fr. Fabio PasqualeF (Professor of digital media, Università Pontificia Salesiana), Oliver Roethig (Regional Secretary UNI Europa – The European Services Workers Union, FCAPP Advisory Board Member),

Alberto Oddenino (Professor University of Turin, FCAPP Turin Chapter), Liviu Stirbat (European Commission, Head of Unit AI and Science, Brussels), Anna Maria Tarantola (Past President FCAPP, Milan Chapter)

PS 2. Peacebuilding in Europe: Political Integration as a Way to Peace

Keynote Speakers: H.E. Msgr. Mariano Crociata (President COMECE), Gen. CA Salvatore Cuoci (Italian Army).

Organizer: Christophe Deage (FCAPP Luxemburg Chapter).

Speakers: Sergio Arzeni (INSME, European League for Economic Cooperation), Paolo Cancelli (Professor, Antonianum Pontifical University, Rome), Francesco Clementi (Law Professor, University La Sapienza, Rome), Michele Coduri (former Swiss Diplomat, Rome), Ody-Marc Duclos (Fondation Coeur Vert, Abidjan, Ivory Coast),

Jean-Pierre Darnis (Professor, Université Cote d’Azur, Nice), Alessandro Politi (FCAPP Luxembourg Chapter), Silke Schmitt (Director, Hans Seidel Foundation,

Rome), Alessandro Simoneschi (FCAPP Lugano Chapter), Umberto Triulzi (University La Sapienza, Rome), Fr. Oleh Zymak CSsR (Ukrainian Greek Catholic Redemptorist priest, Kiev, Ukraine).

PS 3: Liberty and Liberation: The Experience of Popular Movements in Latin America. The Double Challenge of Development from Below and Populism.

Organizer: Fr. Peter Lah (Dean of the Faculty of Social Science, Gregorian Pontifical University).

Keynote Speaker: Msgr. Guy-Réal Thivierge (CAPPF Scientific Committee Member, Member of the Chapter of St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican).

Speakers: Fr. Gonzalo de la Morena Barrio (Professor, Pontifical University of Santa Croce, Rome), Rodrigo Guerra López (Co-Secretary, Pontifical Commission for Latin America), Fr. Josep Maria Serrano (Professor ESADE, Barcelona), Richard Wood (Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies, University of Southern California).

PS 4. The Asian Way to the SDC: Religious Pluralism, Good Governance and Responsible Leadership.

Keynote Speaker: Ki-Chan Kim (Emeritus Professor, The Catholic University of Korea, International Chancellor, President University Chairman, International Council for Small Business).

Organizer: Lawrence Chong (Consultor at Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, CEO Consulus Group, Singapore).

Speakers: Vittorio Alberti (Writer, Philosopher, Gregorian Pontifical University), Fr. Albert Alejo (Pontifical Gregorian University), Fr. Selvaraj Arulnathan SJ (Director, Indian Social Institute, Bangalore), Fr. Rene Cabag (CICM, Mayhill School of Theology, Philippines), Fr. James Channan (Director, Peace Centre, Lahore, Pakistan), Benjamin Lee (FCAPP Hong-Kong Chapter), Sergio Lugaresi (CESPI Rome, former Executive Director Asian Development Bank).

PS 5. Human Development Challenges in and from the Mediterranean: Abrahamic Approaches to Social and Economic Issues.

Organizers: Massimo Gargiulo (Card. Bea Centre for Judaic Studies, Gregoriana Pontifical University) and Giovanni Ferri (Professor at LUMSA Pontifical University, FCAPP Rome Chapter).

Speakers: Massimo Deandreis (SRM, Studi e Ricerche sul Mediterraneo, Naples), Roland Dubertrand (Chair of Mediterranean, religions and society, PISAI), Ruth Dureghello (Scientific Committee of AEC -Amicizia Ebraico Cristiana, Rome), Peter Hefele (Martens Centre, Brussels), Recep Senturk (Dean of Islamic Studies, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar), Br. Francesco Zecca (Associazione OIKOS, Antonianum Pontifical University).

PS 6. Development Opportunities and Spirituality in Africa: Lessons from Pope Leo’s vision.

Keynote Speaker: H.E. Msgr. Fortunatus Nwachukwu (Archbishop of Aquaviva, Secretary for the Section of First Evangelization in the Dicastery for Evangelization). Organizer: Pietro Sebastiani (Retired Ambassador to the Holy See and The Order of Malta, Professor at LUMSA Pontifical University).

Speakers: Rym Ayadi (President, Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association, Barcelona), Federico Bonaglia (OECD Development Centre, Paris), David Chaboryot (FCAPP Kenya Chapter), Andrea De Marco (UNIDO, Vienna), Domenico Fanizza (Former Executive Director, African Development Bank and IMF), H.E. Msgr. Joseph-Marie Ndi-Okalla (Bishop of Mbalmayo, Cameroon), Zipporah Maureen Kiprono (Kenya, Pontifical Gregorian University), Fabio Petroni (Catholic University of Milan, E4Impact Foundation), Pietro PiccineF (CEO Infratel Italia, FCAPP Treviso Chapter), Fr. Marcel Uwineza (Principal, Hekima University College, Nairobi, Kenya).

13.30 – 14.30: Lunch

14.30 – 15.30: Parallel Sessions (continuation)

15.30 – 16.45: Second Plenary Session: How to Build New Frameworks for Multilateralism and International Law

Keynote Addresses:

• H.E. Card. Silvano Tomasi, Cardinal Deacon of San Nicola in Carcere
• H.E. Mons. Ettore Ballestrero, Permanent Representative of the Holy See at the UN and Specialized Agencies in Geneva

• Paschal Donohoe, Managing Director and Chief Knowledge Officer, World Bank Group
• Guilherme Canela De Souza Godoi, Director Digital Inclusion and Transformation, UNESCO
• Bernard Snoy, President, Robert Triffin International Foundation, Brussels

16.45 – 19.00. Panel Discussion:

• Paola Albrito, Director, United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction Office, Geneva
• Javier Arias, President, European League for Economic Cooperation, Brussels
• Michael Driessen, Professor of Political Science at John Cabot University, Ansari Institute for Global Engagement with Religion, University of Notre Dame, USA
• Jan Figel, Former Deputy Prime Minister, Slovakia, and EU Commissioner
• Christiaan Alting von Geusau, President, International Catholic Legislators Network, Vienna
• Luigi Paganetto, Professor of Economics, University of Tor Vergata, Rome
• Federico Ottavio Reho, Research Director, Martens Centre, Brussels
• Hubert de Vauplane, Lawyer and Professor at Science Po Paris, FCAPP Paris Chapter
• Olivier Vedrine, Director, Jean Monnet Association, Paris
• Alexandre Widmer, Chief of Staff, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Berne

19.00 – 19.15. Concluding Address:

• H.E. Msgr. Joseph-Marie Ndi-Okalla (Bishop of Mbalmayo, Cameroon)

19. 15 – 21.30. Cocktail