Transparency and Accountability in the Catholic Church: a Practical Journey

TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

An international workshop on “Transparency and Accountability in the Catholic Church: a Practical Journey,” was organized by Markets, Culture and Ethics Research Centre of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome, 17th to 21st June, 2024.

Over thirty persons (a Cardinal, Archbishops, Bishops, priests, lay persons) from Africa, Asia and Europe participated in the workshop. Lectures were given by experts/professors drawn from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome, St. Mary’s University, Twickenham, London, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, University of St. Thomas and IESE Business School, Barcelona, Spain. The topics treated included Leadership, Strategic Planning, Communication in Crises, Financial Management and Control, Ethics, Accounting, etc.

The participants on Wednesday, 19th June, were at the Papal audience, very warmly welcomed by the Holy Father, Pope Francis, after which we visited the Apostolic Palace where key officials in the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy and the Governorate of the Vatican City in their lectures gave first-hand insights into the economic reforms implemented in the Vatican, with the hope that the awareness will provide valuable lessons that can be applied to our own diocesan or organizational contexts.

For the duration of the workshop, most of the participants were housed in the Irish College, Rome, and were very warmly hosted by the college community.

We concluded the workshop with a Holy Mass in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, presided by His Eminence, Cardinal Harvey, followed by a very lovely dinner.

To God be glory and praise, the workshop was very inspiring, edifying and fruitful.