The International Academy of Catholic Leaders has convened an international event this Saturday, June 21, to pay tribute to the legacy of Pope Francis and begin to discern the first steps of the pontificate of His Holiness Leo XIV.

The conference, titled “Discerning the Present, Building the Future,” will last two hours and will bring together prominent figures from the ecclesiastical, academic, and social spheres. The conference will offer a space for analysis and dialogue on two momentous moments for the universal Church.

The first part of the event will be dedicated to the pontificate of Pope Francis and will feature Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States; Dr. Austen Ivereigh, biographer of Pope Francis; and Professor Peter Casarella, theologian and professor at Duke University. They will address the main theological and pastoral implications of Pope Francis’s teaching, as well as his profound influence on contemporary ecclesial and public life.

The second part will reflect on the challenges and prospects posed by the beginning of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate. This panel will feature Archbishop Javier del Río of Arequipa; Dr. Rodrigo Guerra, Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America; and Sister Helen Alford, Dean of Social Sciences at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), who will share their first impressions of the Church’s new leadership. The event will be held virtually and begins at 11 a.m. New York time.

Lara Bersano Calot, executive director of the International Academy of Catholic Leaders, said:

“This event is deeply significant for our community. Pope Francis had a close and affectionate relationship with our Academy, and many of our members shared with him unforgettable moments of formation, dialogue, and mission. At the same time, it is a providential opportunity to open our hearts to the pontificate of Leo XIV, accepting his call to be artisans of peace. In continuity with the faith and mission of Peter, the Academy reaffirms its commitment to forming leaders in the service of the common good, always guided by the light of the Gospel.”

Registration for the event is free and can be done on the official website:  www.liderescatolicos.net/papas

About the International Academy of Catholic Leaders

The International Academy of Catholic Leaders is a training institution in the Social Doctrine of the Church with a presence in 15 countries, including Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Peru, Uruguay, Paraguay, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Mexico, the United States, and Spain. More than 35,000 students have graduated from its in-person and online programs, consolidating a continental network of leaders committed to social transformation based on the values ​​of the Gospel.