Press Release by the
Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development
International Congress “Prospects for Integral Human Development:
50 years after the Encyclical Populorum Progressio”
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Encyclical Populorum Progressio, a conference entitled “Prospects for service to integral human development: 50 years after Populorum Progressio” will be held on 3 - 4 April 2017 in the Vatican, in the New Synod Hall. The conference, organized by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, aims at studying the theological, anthropological and pastoral perspectives of the encyclical, especially in relation to the efforts of those who work in favor of promoting the person, and to formulate guidelines for the activity of the new Dicastery.
The meeting will be attended, in particular, by members of the Pontifical Councils that have merged into the Dicastery (Justice and Peace, “Cor Unum”, Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, Health Care Workers), representatives of the Episcopal Conferences and their social and “Justice and Peace” Commissions, representatives of international Catholic charitable organizations, and the diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See.
Following the introduction on Monday, 3 April by Cardinal Peter K.A. Turkson, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Human Integral Development, and the theological presentation of the anthropological theme by Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the conference is divided according to the three fundamental dimensions of the person: body-soul, man-woman, and person-society. In addition to presentations by experts from different sectors, testimonies will be offered to demonstrate how the Church operates directly in favor of the weakest. The Cardinal Secretary of State will preside at the Eucharistic celebration on Monday 3 April in St. Peter’s Basilica.
An audience with the Holy Father is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 4 April at 11:30.
For information please contact the Press and Communications Office of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development: Roberto Paglialonga (r.paglialonga@humandevelopment.va), Pamela Fabiano (p.fabiano@humandevelopment.va), Claudia di Lorenzi (c.dilorenzi@humandevelopment.va ).