Italian
The International Conference promoted by the Centesimus Annus – Pro Pontifice Foundation titled “A Fragmented World in Search of Spirituality: Freedom and Pluralism in the Social Doctrine of the Church” took place yesterday, May 29, in the New Hall of the Synod in the Vatican.
VATICAN CITY. The Conference brought together scholars, economists, representatives of institutions, members of the ecclesiastical world, and civil society to reflect on the challenges facing the contemporary global context, marked by conflicts, polarization, and profound social transformations.
The opening of the proceedings was marked by a reflection on the role of spirituality as a response to the crises of our time. “In a time marked by widespread wars, increasing polarization, and deep cultural and social fractures, the Foundation dedicates the 2026 international conference to one of the most urgent issues of the present: the search for a new spirituality capable of restoring meaning to freedom, pluralism, and peaceful coexistence among people, nations, and cultures. The chosen theme arises from the awareness that contemporary crises are not only economic, political, or geopolitical, but are rooted in a progressive weakening of the ethical and spiritual foundations of society,” explains Paolo Garonna, President of the Centesimus Annus – Pro Pontifice Foundation. Hence the necessity to reaffirm the importance of multilateralism and international law for peaceful coexistence and universal brotherhood. “The Social Doctrine of the Church represents a source of inspiration for imagining new forms of international cooperation capable of addressing the geopolitical, economic, climatic, and social crises of the present,” emphasized Paolo Garonna, president of the Centesimus Annus – Pro Pontifice Foundation.
At the center of the debate is the value of the Church’s social doctrine as a tool to promote new forms of international cooperation, capable of addressing geopolitical, economic, climate, and social challenges. Particular attention has also been given to the crisis of contemporary democracies, the growing distrust in international institutions, and the need to revive a multilateralism based on respect for human dignity, international law, and the common good.
The first plenary session delved into the theme of the human person, aspirations for freedom, and the search for meaning in contemporary societies. Psychologists, educators, artists, and scholars addressed issues such as psychological distress, burnout, and the building of communities based on solidarity and peace.
Ample space has also been reserved for working groups, organized according to the synodal method. Among the topics addressed: the relationship between artificial intelligence, freedom, and spirituality; communication in the era of fake news and social media; interreligious dialogue; peacebuilding in conflict areas; the role of Catholic communities in Africa; responsible investments in Asia and the experiences of popular movements in Latin America.
The second plenary session focused on the reform of multilateralism and international law, aiming to identify concrete pathways to build new models of global governance based on cooperation among peoples and nations.
The conference followed the Assembly of the members of the Foundation, held on May 28 in Rome at the Pontifical International College Maria Mater Ecclesiae, dedicated to the theme of Catholic social thought in the face of the challenges of freedom and pluralism.
The appointments conclude today, May 30, with the celebration of the Holy Mass at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica and with a private audience with Pope Leo XIV in the Apostolic Palace, the final moment of three days of discussion and reflection dedicated to the relationship between spirituality, society, and the common good.
