Villanova University Announces 2026 International Sustainability Conference to Address the “Cries of the Earth and the Poor”

Rome, Italy (June 1, 2026) — Villanova University and its Office for Sustainability will host the 2026 International Sustainability Conference entitled Responding to the Cries of the Earth and the Poor, from October 12–16, 2026, in Rome, Italy. The Conference will bring together approximately 300 participants—including academics, researchers, Church representatives, foundations, and public and private sector leaders—in a transdisciplinary forum designed to move from dialogue to concrete, collaborative action. 

Held at the Patristicum, the 2026 conference marks a significant step forward in Villanova’s growing international leadership in sustainability. The conference aims to foster transdisciplinary collaboration, advance research and dialogue for more just and sustainable communities, promote innovation grounded in ethics and lived experience, and strengthen a global network committed to addressing today’s most pressing challenges. 

Grounded in Pope Francis’ writings in both Laudato Si’ and Laudate Deum, and in the teachings of Pope Leo XIV in his call in Dilexi Te to care for the poor and marginalized, the 2026 International Sustainability Conference is framed by the growing convergence of ecological degradation and social inequality. It aims to tackle this crisis by inviting researchers who encourage new ways of thinking about sustainability in the sciences, philosophy, nursing, law, business, engineering, the humanities and beyond. 

Call for Papers and Registration Now Open
Registrations and academic submissions are now open. Scholars, practitioners, and institutional leaders are invited to contribute from any field related to sustainability, spanning both theory and practice. Submissions can be made for lightning talks, poster presentations, or both.

• Abstract submission deadline: June 30, 2026

• Notification of acceptance: July 25, 2026

Authors should emphasize how their work contributes to positive impact in sustainability. Multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches are encouraged. Abstracts will be evaluated based on rigor, originality, and clarity. 

More information about the conference, including registration and submission guidelines, is available HERE.

Sustainability at Villanova University: In 2007, Villanova University President the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD signed the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. In 2018, the Villanova Sustainability Leadership Council was established to develop a 10-year actionable and measurable plan to guide the University’s comprehensive effort to support the planet and its people and to ensure prosperity for all. By committing the University to the Laudato Si Action Platform and developing a customized Laudato Si’ Plan, Villanova University is taking decisive action to build a better future. At the core of all sustainability activities, both large and small, is the University’s vision to establish an ethos of sustainable living. As an Augustinian Catholic institution, Villanova is committed to generating and advocating sustainable action to help create a future that provides enough, for all, forever. 

About Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova University’s Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges—the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation’s top universities, Villanova supports its students’ intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu.