September 28, 2019
For immediate release
Secretary Pompeo, Archbishop Gallagher to Launch U.S.-Vatican Symposium on Faith-Based Organizations
VATICAN CITY (September 28, 2019) – Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will join Holy See Secretary for Relations with States Archbishop Paul Gallagher on October 2, 2019, at a symposium in the Old Synod Hall in Vatican City. The symposium, “Pathways to Achieving Human Dignity: Partnering with Faith-Based Organizations,” is co-hosted by the Holy See’s Secretariat of State and the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See.
“This symposium is dedicated to highlighting how partnering with faith-based organizations is a pathway to achieving human dignity for all people,” said U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Callista Gingrich.
Faith-based organizations (FBOs) distribute aid to those in need, serve as lifelines for many communities and individuals experiencing severe hardships, and advocate for the oppressed. FBOs are valuable partners, with unparalleled access to local populations, and a fierce dedication to human dignity. The United States and the Holy See have a shared commitment of partnering with FBOs that provide humanitarian assistance and support to some of the most vulnerable people on the planet: victims of religious persecution, human trafficking, and natural and man-made disasters.
Through three high-level panel discussions, this symposium will demonstrate how governments and other institutions can partner with faith-based organizations to advance and defend religious freedom, combat human trafficking, and provide humanitarian assistance.
The symposium will feature participation by representatives from prominent faith-based organizations, including the Community of Sant’Egidio, Aid to the Church in Need, the Adyan Foundation, the AVSI Foundation, Caritas Internationalis, and Talitha Kum. They will be joined by senior U.S. and Holy See officials from across departments and agencies, including the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Department of State’s Offices of International Religious Freedom and to Monitor and Combat Trafficking-in-Persons, the Holy See’s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, and the Holy See’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
Finally, this symposium will demonstrate the importance of the U.S.–Holy See partnership during the 35th anniversary year of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations.
Due to limited space inside the Old Synod Hall, access will be granted only to a restricted Pool of journalists and media operators.
It will be possible to follow the opening and closing session of the Symposium in streaming on the website of Vatican News – International Channel or at https://m.youtube.com/user/vatican.
Images in broadcast quality can be requested from Vatican Media, at: vaticanmedia@spc.va.
For information related to the accreditation procedure, the Media Operations and Accreditations Office of the Holy See Press Office may be contacted via e-mail at accreditamenti@salastampa.va.
For other media related questions, please contact:
Mary Shovlain
Public Diplomacy Specialist, U.S. Embassy to the Holy See
ShovlainML@state.gov