Meeting highlights key leadership role women play addressing global challenges

By Vatican News

An international gathering of Church representatives, ambassadors in Rome, and lay experts aims to highlight and promote the importance of women's leadership in all spheres, as well as their needed and critical contribution to helping make a better world by addressing the many global challenges of our day.

Women's leadership for a brighter future

As part of events to mark International Women’s Day 2024, the Church's charitable confederation, Caritas Internationalis, has joined with the Australian and British Embassies to the Holy See to bring high-profile speakers and experts together for a one-day meeting on 6 March entitled "Women leaders: Towards a brighter future", which will take place at the Jesuit Curia in Central Rome.

Panel discussions will focus on women's empowerment in the Catholic Church and how faith and government actors can increase collaboration. Experts will also look at success stories of how education, economic empowerment, and skills development have helped generate women leaders in a variety of fields and global situations.

Among those speaking are Sr. Patricia Murray, Executive Secretary of the International Union of Superiors General; and Fr. Arturo Sosa Abascal, Superior General of the Society of Jesus. Vatican representatives include Sr. Nathalie Becquart, Under-Secretary of the General Secretariat of the Synod; and Cristiane Murray, Deputy Director of the Holy See Press Office. Also present are women theologians, including Professor Maeve Heaney from the Australian Catholic University; and Dr Nontando Hadebe from the St Augustine College of South Africa; as well as women leading organisations at the grassroots level and beyond from Mauritius, India, South Sudan, and Mexico.

Participation for a better future

Christopher Trott, the British Ambassador to the Holy See, points out that “women are critical agents for building a better future and responding to pressing global issues the world is facing today," and that "to build a fairer, freer, safer, wealthier, and greener world, where everyone benefits and no one is left behind, women and girls must remain at the heart of our efforts." Showcasing the "diverse voices, knowledge and leadership of women in church and society," one of the aims of the gathering, is central to these efforts.

Diversity for transformative change

Australia's Ambassador to the Holy See, Chiara Porro, also underscores how “women and girls – in their diversity – are central to the transformative change" needed today. She says we need to harness their knowledge and experiences, also at the leadership level. Identifying and overcoming barriers and challenges is essential, she notes, and also part of her country's commitment "to building a world where all people can reach and contribute their potential, regardless of their gender," in order to make a better future.

Overcoming barriers, old and new

Co-host Alistair Dutton, Secretary General of Caritas Internationalis, recalls how poverty, violence, and lack of access to education and basic services are factors that must be addressed since they also contribute to the exclusion of women's participation. That is why Caritas works with the grassroots in over 200 countries and territories to promote women’s empowerment, education, and participation in leadership and decision-making at all levels, in order to overcome barriers of all sorts and show how women’s experiences and expertise can be valued, and "a brighter future is built.”