In response to the various appeals made by Pope Leo XIV to the whole People of God—inviting everyone to rediscover the teaching that the Social Doctrine of the Church is always able to offer in addressing the challenges of the contemporary world—the Pope Leo XIV International Study Centre has been established within the Convent of Santo Spirito in Florence.
Its purpose is to promote, both nationally and internationally, an advanced formation in social and political life.
The official presentation of the new Centre will take place on Tuesday, 14 October 2025, at 11:30 a.m., in the Sala di Lorenzo of Palazzo Vecchio, Florence.The event will be attended by Sara Funaro, Mayor of Florence, who will deliver the opening address.
Further contributions will be offered by:
- Alessandro Lombardi, Pro-Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Florence, “The Pope Leo XIV International Study Centre and the Local Church of Florence”;
- Joseph Farfelli, Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine, “The Current Commitment of the Augustinians in Florence and Santo Spirito”;
- Gabriele Pedicino, Provincial of the Augustinian Province of Italy, “The Italian Augustinians in Florence”;
- Giuseppe Pagano, Prior of the Convent of Santo Spirito, who will present the establishment of the new Study Centre and the planned activities for the 2025–2026 biennium;
- Francesco Salvestrini, Professor at the University of Florence, who will outline “Objectives and Strategies of the New Pope Leo XIV International Study Centre.”
One of the main aims of the newly founded Centre is to offer every person—regardless of ethnic or religious affiliation—a truthful perspective and an authentic judgment on daily life, grounded in the Gospel and in the Social Doctrine of the Church.
Its purpose is to educate for political life by fostering that desire for relationships and unity which defines the human person, overcoming the culture of suspicion and fear.
The programme of formation in social and political life will be offered through an interdisciplinary approach involving courses, seminars, and conferences, and is particularly addressed to:
- those who wish to acquire a political formation in order to serve society at various levels;
- those who, having already undertaken philosophical and theological studies, wish to deepen their cultural understanding of current global developments;
- and lay people, deacons, priests, religious brothers and sisters who seek to develop a critical awareness of international relations.
Born within the experience of the Order of Saint Augustine, the Pope Leo XIV International Study Centre will collaborate closely with the Theological Faculty of Central Italy, and will be open to dialogue and cooperation with other academic, cultural, and social institutions—both national and international—that share its foundational principles and aims.
With the establishment of the new Centre, the Augustinian Community of Santo Spirito renews its commitment to promoting a culture of thought and holistic formation, faithful to the tradition of study and spirituality that has long distinguished the Order of Saint Augustine and the city of Florence.