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Faith and Public Life: The Church in the Americas

Thursday, 8 October 2015
3:30PM - 5:30PM
Piper Hall, Lake Shore Campus
Loyola University Chicago

In 1999, Pope John Paul II issued a post-synodal apostolic exhortation entitled Ecclesia in America. The pope asked the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops to reflect “on America as a single entity, by reason of all that is common to the peoples of the continent, including their shared Christian identity and their genuine attempt to strengthen the bonds of solidarity and communion between the different forms of the continent’s rich cultural heritage.”

Loyola University Chicago hosted a conversation following the visit of Pope Francis to Cuba and to the United States. Leading this conversation were: Ambassador Carmen Lomellin, former U.S. ambassador to the Organization of American States, Dr. Miguel H. Díaz, former U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, and Dr. Peter M. Sanchez, Associate Professor of Political Science. Among the questions that were explored by this panel include: What influence did Vatican II and Medellín have on the American continent? What are some ongoing socio-political challenges facing the American continent? What can nations on this continent do to birth a New Spring in human relations? How might the normalization of diplomatic relations with Cuba, and the role that the Church has exercised in this process contribute to the stabilization of inter-continental relations? What positive role can Catholic faith leaders exercise within the continent, especially now under Pope Francis, the first Latin-American pope in history?