Conferences
NOSTRA AETATE (In Our Time)
November 7–9, 2019
Vatican II’s Nostra Aetate urges adherents of the world’s major religions to promote understanding, justice, peace, freedom and human welfare. Why did controversy surround this 1965 document? What is its significance today?
Join Villanova’s Institute for Catholic Social Thought and Center for Arab and Islamic Studies to examine this groundbreaking work’s historical and current ecclesial contexts.
Confirmed Speakers
Archimandrite Nikodemos Anagnostopoulos, University of Notre Dame in London
John Borelli, Georgetown University
Kail Ellis, Villanova University
Martin Ganeri, OP, Blackfriars, University of Oxford
Sidney Griffith, The Catholic University of America
Christian Krokus, The University of Scranton
Rev. Dennis McManus, Pope Leo XIII Institute and Georgetown University
David Neuhaus, SJ, Pontifical Biblical Institute, Jerusalem; and Former Patriarchal Vicar for Hebrew-Speaking Catholics in Jerusalem
Anthony O'Mahony, Blackfriars, University of Oxford
George Sabra, Near East School of Theology, Beirut
Rev. Richard Sudworth, Secretary for Interreligious Affairs to the Archbishop of Canterbury
Rocco Viviano, SX, Shinmeizan Centre of Spirituality and Interreligious Dialogue, Kyushu
Mercy, Justice, Love, & Care for the Earth
April 12–15, 2018
The goal of the conference is to provide a theological and historical analysis of this pontificate.
For questions or concerns regarding the Conference please contact Erin Buckley at (610)519-4485.
Keynote Speakers
Flight or Field Hospital: Pope Francis and the Church’s Engagement with the World
Cardinal Joseph Tobin, CSSR, Newark, NJ
Reconciling Doctrine, Theology, Spirituality, and Pastorality: Vatican II and Pope Francis
John O’Malley, SJ, Georgetown University
Pope Francis and “Laudato Si”
Jeffrey Sachs, Columbia University
A hunter who advances too far ahead of his fellow hunters ends up with an arrow in his behind: Following Francis’s Tough Leadership Act
Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator, SJ, President, Conference of Jesuit Major Superiors of Africa and Madagascar, Nairobi, Kenya
Pope Francis and His Impact on the Church of Latin America
Cardinal Óscar Andrés Rodriguez Maradiaga, SDB, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Pope Francis: The Catholic Church as a Social Movement
Margaret Archer, President, Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences
Pope Francis’ Interpretation of Vatican II
Massimo Faggioli, Villanova University
The Spiritual Roots of “Reform” in Pope Francis
Antonio Spadaro, SJ, Editor, La Civilta Cattolica
Pope Francis: A Theologian of Migration
Michelle Pistone, Villanova University School of Law
Date | Time | Event | Location |
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April 12 | 7:30 PM | Welcome Barbara Wall, PhD, Vice President for Mission and Ministry, Villanova University |
St. Thomas of Villanova Church |
Flight or Field Hospital: Pope Francis and the Church’s Engagement with the World Cardinal Joseph Tobin, CSSR, Newark, NJ |
St. Thomas of Villanova Church | ||
April 13 | 8:30 AM | Continental Breakfast | TBD |
April 13 | 9:30 AM | Reconciling Doctrine, Theology, Spirituality, and Pastorality: Vatican II and Pope Francis John O'Malley SJ, Georgetown University |
Cinema, Connelly Center |
April 13 | 10:30 AM | Break | Connelly Center |
April 13 | 10:45 AM | Pope Francis and Laudato Si Jeffrey Sachs, Columbia University |
Cinema, Connelly Center |
April 13 | 11:45 AM | Break | Connelly Center |
April 13 | 12:00 PM | Noon Mass followed by Lunch (paid registrants only please) |
St. Thomas of Villanova Church |
April 13 | 1:45 PM | A hunter who advances too far ahead of his fellow hunters ends up with an arrow in his behind: Following Francis’s Tough Leadership Act Agbonkhianmeghe, Orobator, SJ, President, Conference of Jesuit Major Superiors of Africa and Madagascar, Nairobi, Kenya |
Cinema, Connelly Center |
April 13 | 2:45 PM | Break | |
April 13 | 3-4 PM | Concurrent Session 1 | Various Locations |
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Group 1: Roots of Francis’ Theology:
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Cinema, Connelly Center |
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Group 2: Francis and Amoris Laetitia and Sexual Ethics:
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St. David's Room, |
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Group 3: Francis and Laudato Si – The Environment:
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Radnor Room, Connelly Center |
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Group 4: College of Engineering Application of Laudato Si:
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Haverford Room, Connelly Center |
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Group 5: Francis and the Media:
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Bryn Mawr Room, Connelly Center |
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Group 6: Francis and Catholic Bioethics – Health:
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Devon Room, Connelly Center |
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April 13 | 4:00 PM | Break | |
April 13 | 4:15 PM | Pope Francis and His Impact on the Church of Latin America Cardinal Óscar Andrés Rodriguez Maradiaga, SDB, Tegucigalpa, Honduras |
Cinema, Connelly Center |
April 13 | 5:15 PM | Break | |
April 13 | 5:30 PM | Vespers | St. Thomas of Villanova Church |
April 13 | 6:00 PM | Dinner Break (on your own) | |
April 13 |
8:00 PM | Organ Concert in Honor of Pope Francis’ Fifth Anniversary Dr. Mark Bani, Old St. Joseph’s Church, Philadelphia |
St. Thomas of Villanova Church |
April 14 | 8:00 AM | Mass | Villanova Room, Connelly Center |
April 14 | 8:30 AM | Continental Breakfast (paid registrants only please) | Villanova Room, Connelly Center |
April 14 | 9:15-10:15 AM | Concurrent Session 2 | Various Locations |
Group 1: Roots of Francis’ Theology:
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St. David's Room Connelly Center |
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Group 2: Francis and Laudato Si – The Environment:
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Haverford Room, Connelly Center |
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Group 3: Francis and Ecclesiology:
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Cinema, Connelly Center |
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Group 4: Francis and the Media:
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Bryn Mawr Room, Connelly Center |
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Group 5: Francis and Social Justice:
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Radnor Room, Connelly Center |
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Group 6: Francis and Discipleship:
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Devon Room, Connelly Center |
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Group 7: Francis and Discipleship
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Rosemont Room, Connelly Center |
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April 14 | 10:15 AM | Break | |
April 14 | 10:30 AM | Pope Francis: The Catholic Church as a Social Movement Margaret Archer, President, Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences |
Cinema, Connelly Center |
April 14 | 11:30 AM | Break | |
April 14 | 11:45 AM | The Spiritual Roots of “Reform” in Pope Francis Antonio Spadaro, SJ, Editor, La Civiltá Cattolica |
Cinema, Connelly Center |
April 14 | 12:45 PM | Lunch (paid registrants only please) |
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April 14 | 1:45 PM | Pope Francis’s Interpretation of Vatican II Massimo Faggioli, Villanova University |
Cinema, Connelly Center |
April 14 | 2:45 PM | Break | |
April 14 | 3:00 PM | Pope Francis: A Theologian of Migration Michelle Pistone, Villanova School of Law |
Cinema, Connelly Center |
April 14 | 4:00 PM | Break | |
April 14 | 4:15 PM | Concurrent Session 3 | Various Locations |
Group 1: Francis and Laudato Si – The Environment:
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Devon Room, Connelly Center |
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Group 2: Francis and Ecclesiology:
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Haverford Room, Connelly Center |
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Group 3: Francis and Social Justice:
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Cinema, Connelly Center |
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Group 4: Francis and Catholic Bioethics – Health:
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Rosemont Room, Connelly Center |
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Group 5: Francis and Discipleship:
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Radnor Room, Connelly Center |
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Group 6: Francis and Discipleship II:
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St. David's Room, Connelly Center |
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April 14 | 5:15 PM | Break | |
April 14 | 5:30 PM | Vespers | |
April 14 | 7:00 PM | Banquet - The Inn at Villanova (Pre-registered ticket holders only) |
The Inn at Villanova |
April 15 | 10:30 AM | Mass | St. Thomas of Villanova Church |
April 15 | 11:45 AM | Wrap Up Panel (light refreshments will be available) | Cinema, Connelly Center |
A Regional Conference on Faith and Collegiate Sports
On June 7th and 8th of 2017, Vatican officials along with leaders in the world of higher education and college athletics joined together at Villanova University for the first follow-up conference on the Vatican’s “Sport at the Service of Humanity” initiative. The conference was the first to be sanctioned by the Vatican following its inaugural conference on faith and sports in Rome in October 2016.
Sport at the Service of Humanity: A Regional Conference on Faith and Collegiate Sports — hosted by Villanova University’s Office of Mission and Ministry in conjunction with the BIG EAST Conference— was an invitation-only event with participants consisting of athletic leadership, coaches, team chaplains, campus ministers and mission and ministry officers from colleges and universities, including many faith-related institutions. Representatives from 28 colleges and universities took part in the conference.
At the conclusion of the event, conference leadership committed to establishing a working group to build upon the “Sport at the Service of Humanity” initiative at the collegiate level. The working group will focus on efforts that can be made at colleges and universities to fulfill the six Principles—joy, compassion, respect, love, enlightenment and balance—established by the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Culture.
Rev. Patrick Kelly, SJ, Associate Professor of Theology at Seattle University, making his presentation at the First Regional Follow Up Conference of "Sport at the Service of Humanity." The gathering was sponsored by Villanova University, the Big East Conference and the Pontifical Council for Culture.
Under the auspices of the Pontifical Council of Culture and its Vatican Management Team, the first regional follow up conference of the “Sport at the Service of Humanity” initiative was held at Villanova University on June 7-8, 2017. The focus of the gathering was “Faith and Collegiate Sports.”
More than 100 delegates representing 28 faith based colleges and universities in the United States met to discuss how the resources of athletic departments, campus ministries and chaplaincy offices might address more intentionally the faith development and spiritual needs of student-athletes and to more fully place their combined resources “at the service of humanity.”
At the close of the conference, the Vatican Management Team, represented by Monsignor Melchor Sánchez de Toca y Alameda (Undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture), Bishop Paul Tighe (Adjunct Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture), Bernard Mullin (CEO, Aspire Group) and Nick Marrone (Principal, Marrone and Associates) encouraged Barbara Wall (Vice President for Mission and Ministry, Villanova University) to form a permanent working group to facilitate continued dialogue among constituencies represented at the conference.
Among the goals of the working group are:
- Promoting awareness of and commitment to the Vatican “Declaration of Principles” among colleges and universities, collegiate athletic conferences and related governing bodies in the United States;
- Building stronger relationships between athletic departments and campus ministry / chaplaincy personnel;
- Assuring that institutional mission are embedded in its athletic programs;
- Creating a positive culture in athletic programs with a focus on inclusion;
- Breaking down silos that may exist for student-athletes, so they can thrive as part of the larger campus community;
- Providing resources to nurture all parts of the student-athlete, including faith and spirituality;
- Supporting student-athletes in becoming their “whole selves,” with greater attention placed on balance in the student-athlete experience;
- Graduating student-athletes who are well prepared to thrive in all aspects of their lives.
Delegates attending the conference were invited to volunteer for the Working Group. The composition of the inaugural committee will be determined by the Office for Mission and Ministry at Villanova University. Participants in Working Group will be selected from those that volunteered.
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
8:30 - 9:20 AM - Registration
9:30 - 10:20 AM Welcome
Rev. Peter Donohue, OSA
President, Villanova University
Msgr. Melchor Sánchez de Toca y Alameda
Undersecretary, Pontifical Council for Culture
Michael Galligan-Stierle
President, ACCU
Mark Jackson
Director of Athletics, Villanova University
10:30 - 11:00 AM A Vision for a Holistic Collegiate Athletics
Experience
Val Ackerman
Commissioner of the Big East
11:00 - 12:00 Collegiate Sports and the Declaration of Principles
Table Discussion
12:00 - 1:00 PM Lunch
1:00 - 2:15 PM Inclusion and Involvement
"Sport at the Service of Humanity: The Church
in Dialogue"
Bishop Paul Tighe, Pontifical Council for Culture
2:30 - 4:00 PM Break Out Discussion
4:00 - 4:45 PM Reports
5:00 - 5:20 PM Vespers
6:00 - 8:00 PM Cocktails and Dinner
Thursday, June 8, 2017
8:00 - 8:30 AM Continental Breakfast
8:45 - 10:00 AM Inspiration
"The Intersection of Faith, Spirituality and
Collegiate Sports"
Rev. Pat Kelly, SJ, Seattle University
10:15 - 11:45 AM Break Out Discussion
12:00 - 12:45 PM Mass
1:00 - 2:00 PM Lunch
2:15 - 3:30 PM Reports
3:30 - Concluding Remarks and Next Steps
Photo Credit: John Welsh, Villanova University.
Comments by Bishop Paul Tighe, Adjunct Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture
"The Sport at the Service of Humanity conference at Villanova was a very important moment in the development of the global initiative which was launched at the Vatican last fall. The conference in Rome sought to identify a number of guiding principles which would serve to inspire people of faith and people of goodwill to work together to ensure that sport continues to contribute to the good of all. The Villanova conference focused on faith in intercollegiate athletics, and brought these principles to the attention of people who are involved in this important arena. It was great to have the reaction of these people to the principles, which had been enunciated in Rome. And it was particularly helpful to learn about the practical considerations that challenge those who are committed to upholding such values."
"The conference at Villanova drew attention to the importance of the virtues. The discussion around virtues helped to ground our reflections in the universal values which should inspire all those who are concerned for the well-being of sport."
"It's very important to remember that the virtues will only flourish where they are supported by institutions and by the more general culture of sport. It was very edifying to observe the commitment among the participants, and the institutions they represented, to promoting the highest standards of fair play and integrity in the area of sport, even if at times these values do not necessarily lead to instant results and success."