A bridge between Social Doctrine and contemporary challenges

The International Academy of Catholic Leaders, in collaboration with the Pontifical University Antonianum in Rome, has officially launched its 11th International Diploma Program under the theme “Leadership for Equity .” The program is structured in two complementary phases: a virtual cycle held on Saturdays in September through synchronous classes and synodal sessions, and an intensive in-person immersion program scheduled for October 5-9 in the Italian capital .

The core focus of the training is to equip professionals in politics, business, education, and civil society with ethical and strategic tools . Key topics include the impact of artificial intelligence, the care economy, multilateralism, integral ecology, and the defense of human dignity .

Globally renowned speakers and an agenda in the heart of the Vatican

The academic leadership team includes prominent international figures such as the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mario J. Paredes; the Academic Director, Juan Pablo Faúndez; and the Executive Director, Lara Bersano Calot . The panel of speakers features distinguished names such as the philosopher Rocco Buttiglione, Cardinal Christophe Pierre, former Costa Rican President Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, and the Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, Rodrigo Guerra López, among others .

The in-person phase in Rome includes not only rigorous roundtables and workshops at Casa La Salle and Antonianum University, but also a profound spiritual experience . Participants will attend the General Audience with Pope Leo XIV, meet with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, visit the Vatican Library, and make a special pilgrimage to Assisi to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis .

With this initiative, the Academy consolidates its mission to weave an international network of leaders committed to transforming their respective professional realities based on the values ​​of the Gospel and the common good .

86 leaders from 16 countries begin the 11th International Diploma Program of the International Academy of Catholic Leaders

The “Leadership for Equity” program, developed in conjunction with the Pontifical Antonianum University of Rome, begins its online phase this Saturday and will culminate in October with an intensive week of training and meetings in Rome.

This Saturday, September 5th, the  11th International Diploma Program of the International Academy of Catholic Leaders began . This is one of the institution’s main international training programs, and this year it will bring together  86 participants from 16 countries  under the theme  “Leadership for Equity .  ” www.liderescatolicos.net/Roma2026/

The Diploma is developed by the  International Academy of Catholic Leaders together with the Pontifical University Antonianum of Rome  and includes a training proposal in  two complementary phases : a first online stage during September and a second face-to-face stage that will take place in Rome from  October 5 to 9, 2026 .

The virtual phase will take place over four Saturdays in September, with synchronous classes, lectures, roundtables, and synodal sessions organized by country. Following this, participants will meet in Rome for an intensive academic, spiritual, and international exchange program, culminating in graduation at the  Pontifical University Antonianum . The complete program comprises approximately  36 hours of training .

The proposal is based on the principles of the  Social Doctrine of the Church —human dignity, common good, solidarity and subsidiarity— , but seeks to apply them to the great challenges faced today by those who exercise responsibilities in politics, business, education, the Church, communication and civil society.

For this reason, the program incorporates particularly current issues for the training of a leader:  artificial intelligence and new technologies, economic transformations, democracy and public service, communication and disinformation, female leadership and the care economy, vulnerability and inequality, human development, multilateralism, integral ecology, the dignity of the person and the construction of the common good .

“Today, forming a Catholic leader doesn’t just mean transmitting knowledge. It means helping them understand a world that is changing at an enormous pace and giving them criteria to discern, decide, and act, always placing the human person at the center. We want leaders capable of engaging in dialogue with artificial intelligence, economics, politics, communication, and the great social changes of our time, grounded in the depths of the Church’s Social Doctrine,”  said  Lara Bersano Calot, executive director of the International Academy of Catholic Leaders .

A training program with international benchmarks

The opening of the Diploma course will be led by  Mario J. Paredes , president of the International Board of Directors of the Academy;  Juan Pablo Faúndez , president of its International Academic Council;  Lara Bersano Calot , executive director; and  Father Andrés Ramos Castro , who will accompany the participants as  chaplain of the XI International Diploma course .

Among the professors, lecturers, and panelists at this edition are the Italian philosopher and former minister  Rocco Buttiglione ;  Cardinal Christophe Pierre ; former President of Costa Rica  Miguel Ángel Rodríguez ; Mexican congresswoman and former first lady  Margarita Zavala ; former Peruvian minister  Marisol Pérez Tello ;  Enrique Segura ; former president of CAF–Development Bank of Latin America  Enrique García ;  Guzmán Carriquiry , former secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America;  Rodrigo Guerra López ;  Paola Binetti ;  José Ramón Amor Pan ; and specialists from the academic, business, political, ecclesial, and communications sectors.

Rome as an academic and spiritual experience

The in-person phase will take place primarily at  Casa La Salle in Rome and will include lectures, panel discussions, group work, and liturgical celebrations. The program also includes student participation in the  General Audience with Pope Leo XIV , a meeting with  Cardinal Pietro Parolin , a special visit to the  Vatican Library  , and an optional pilgrimage to  Assisi . The graduation ceremony will be held at the Pontifical University Antonianum.

The International Diploma constitutes the  highest training level of the International Academy of Catholic Leaders  and seeks to generate not only knowledge, but also an international community of leaders capable of transforming their professional, social and ecclesial realities based on a training that integrates  faith, ethics and action .