Let Everything Be Yours in Common. The Frontiers of Poverty
International Workshop of the Leone XIV International Study Center
Rome, Pontifical Patristic Institute Augustinianum
16–17 September 2026
The Leone XIV International Study Center ETS is pleased to promote the international workshop “Let Everything Be Yours in Common. The Frontiers of Poverty”, which will take place on 16–17 September 2026 at the Pontifical Patristic Institute Augustinianum in Rome.
The initiative is organized in collaboration with the Pontifical Patristic Institute Augustinianum and the Theological Faculty of Central Italy, within a shared framework of research and academic formation dedicated to the major challenges of contemporary society.
The workshop forms part of the scientific programme of the Leone XIV International Study Center, a research and educational institution established within the Augustinian tradition and devoted to the study of the major social, political and international questions of our time in the light of the Social Doctrine of the Church, the dignity of the human person, and the common good.
The event seeks to foster dialogue between academic research, ecclesial experience and social responsibility, creating a space for exchange among scholars, institutional representatives, pastoral workers and young researchers. The workshop aims to contribute to a shared reflection on contemporary transformations, based on the conviction that addressing the many forms of poverty requires interdisciplinary approaches and renewed cooperation between the academic community, civil society and the Church.
Inspired by the Augustinian tradition and the social teaching of the Church, the workshop is conceived as an international forum for study, dialogue and exchange on the many dimensions of poverty in the contemporary world: economic and social poverty, educational and cultural fragility, new inequalities, armed conflicts, migration, environmental crises, technological transformations and the ethical challenges posed by artificial intelligence.
The title of the workshop recalls one of the most significant expressions of Augustinian spirituality — “Let everything be yours in common” — proposing it as a cultural and civic horizon for reflecting on the relationship between human dignity, solidarity, social justice, and shared responsibility.
The workshop will open with an introductory session chaired by Simone Morandini, featuring welcome addresses by Fr. Giuseppe Pagano, President of the Leone XIV International Study Center, Fr. Juan Antonio Cabrera, President of the Pontifical Patristic Institute Augustinianum, and Fr. Joseph Farrell, Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine.
The opening session will be followed by a Lectio Magistralis delivered by Enrico Giovannini, former Italian Minister of Labour and Social Policies and Professor at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, who will provide the interpretative framework for the discussions that will unfold throughout the workshop.
The event will bring together theologians, philosophers, historians, economists, jurists, scholars of international affairs and researchers from universities and academic institutions across different countries, united by the conviction that contemporary forms of poverty can only be understood through a genuinely interdisciplinary and dialogical approach.
Among the speakers and session chairs will be scholars from universities, research institutes and ecclesial institutions of international standing, together with figures active in culture, journalism, international cooperation and pastoral ministry. The diversity of expertise represented constitutes one of the defining features of the workshop and reflects the commitment to promoting a truly international and interdisciplinary dialogue aimed at identifying meaningful responses to the challenges of our time.
Over the course of the two days, participants will explore themes such as poverty in Scripture and Christian tradition, contemporary social and cultural transformations, the role of Churches and religions in addressing global inequalities, and the contribution of younger generations of scholars to international academic research.
Among the institutions represented will be the University of Oxford, University College London, Villanova University, Université de Strasbourg, the University of Florence, the Pontifical John Paul II Theological Institute, the Institute for Ecumenical Studies “S. Bernardino” of Venice, together with distinguished representatives from the worlds of culture, journalism and pastoral engagement.
The workshop is structured around four thematic sessions:
- Scripture and its Re-writings: a Complex Tradition
- Contemporaneity
- Global Poverty, Churches and Religions
- Invited Contributions by Young Scholars
Special attention will be devoted to the contribution of young researchers, who are called to address the cultural, social and political challenges of our age through innovative and interdisciplinary approaches.
The workshop will conclude with a final session of synthesis and reflection led by Fr. Joseph Farrell, Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine, who will offer concluding remarks on the principal themes that emerged during the discussions and on future perspectives for interdisciplinary research concerning poverty, social justice and the common good.
The initiative seeks to contribute to the development of an international network of research and dialogue connecting universities, institutions, ecclesial communities and civil society, fostering interdisciplinary reflection on contemporary forms of poverty and the challenges they pose to the pursuit of the common good.
Scientific Structure of the Workshop
1. Scripture and its Re-writings: a Complex Tradition
Chair: Cristina Simonelli
(Theological Faculty of Northern Italy, Milan)
The first session addresses poverty through the lens of biblical sources and their reception within the Christian tradition. Bringing together biblical studies, patristics, the history of spirituality and theological reflection, the session will explore the religious, social and ethical meanings of poverty in Scripture, the Augustinian tradition and the history of the Church. Its aim is to show how the biblical and Christian heritage continues to provide interpretative tools for understanding contemporary forms of vulnerability and inequality.
Speakers:
- Donatella Scaiola (Pontifical John Paul II Theological Institute) – Poverty and Justice in the Old Testament
- Kieran O’Mahoney (St. John’s Community, Dublin) – Poverty in the Life Experience and Pastoral Theology of St Paul
- Michele Cutino (Université de Strasbourg) – Augustine on Paulinus of Nola: Poverty as a Christian Choice
- Francesco Salvestrini (University of Florence) – Monastic Poverty and Poverty in Mendicant Orders
- Donatella Pagliacci (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore) – Discussant
2. Contemporaneity
Chair: Massimo Faggioli
(Villanova University, Pennsylvania, USA)
The second session focuses on the challenges of the contemporary world and on the relationship between poverty, rights, peace, education and cultural transformations. Drawing on perspectives from Church teaching, social ethics, law, international journalism and emerging technologies, the session will examine some of the most pressing issues of our time, highlighting both opportunities and responsibilities within an increasingly interconnected global society.
Speakers:
- Antonio Natali and Elena Manganelli – Short Biblical-Artistic Meditation on Caravaggio
- Erio Castellucci (Archdiocese of Modena-Nonantola) – Poverty and the Church Magisterium
- Pier Davide Guenzi (Pontifical John Paul II Theological Institute) – A Special Focus on Social Ethics (Discussant)
- Lucia Capuzzi (Avvenire) – Peace, Conflicts and Poverty
- Patrizia Giunti (University of Florence) – Law, Rights and Poverty
- Elías Neira (OALA – Organization of Augustinians of Latin America) – Overcoming Poverty: Educational Opportunities through Artificial Intelligence
- Claudia Maiorelli (Monastery of Saint Anthony of Padua, Pennabilli) – The Mediterranean Monastery Network for Peace (Discussant)
3. Global Poverty, Churches and Religions
Chair: Simone Morandini
(Institute for Ecumenical Studies “S. Bernardino”, Venice)
The third session offers an interdisciplinary reflection on the relationship between global poverty, religions, ecclesial communities and public life. The presentations will examine the political, cultural and religious dimensions of poverty while considering the role that Churches and religious traditions can play in promoting social justice, democratic participation and international solidarity.
Speakers:
- Luis Marín de San Martín (Papal Almoner – Vatican City) – Global Poverty: An Overview and Analysis
- Debora Spini (New York University Florence) – Poverty, Politics and Religion
- Massimo Faggioli (Villanova University) – Poverty, Politics and the Role of the Churches Today
A general discussion among speakers and participants will follow.
4. Invited Contributions by Young Scholars
Chair: Chabi Kolawole
(Pontifical Patristic Institute Augustinianum)
The final thematic session is dedicated to young scholars invited by the Scientific Committee. Their research addresses issues of particular relevance to contemporary debate and highlights the contribution of new generations in developing cultural and scholarly tools capable of interpreting complex phenomena such as migration, inequality and access to essential resources.
Speakers:
- Vittorio Bruni (University of Oxford) – Poverty and Migration
- Federica Natalia Rosati (University College London) – Analysis of Water and Sanitation Services
The session will conclude with an open discussion.
Concluding Session
The final session, chaired by Fr. Giuseppe Pagano, President of the Leone XIV International Study Center, will be devoted to a synthesis of the principal issues discussed during the workshop and to future perspectives for interdisciplinary research on poverty, social justice and the common good.
The concluding remarks will be delivered by Fr. Joseph Farrell, Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine.
Information and Registration
Venue
Pontifical Patristic Institute Augustinianum
Via Paolo VI, 25
00193 Rome, Italy
Dates
16–17 September 2026
Registration
Participation in the workshop requires prior registration through the official Indico platform of the Leone XIV International Study Center.
Registration Fee
The registration fee is €100.00 and includes:
- participation in all workshop sessions;
- conference materials;
- coffee breaks included in the programme;
- lunch on 16 September 2026;
- lunch on 17 September 2026.
Social Dinner
A Social Dinner will be held on the evening of 17 September 2026, providing an opportunity for speakers, scholars and participants to meet and continue discussions in an informal setting.
Participation is optional and requires an additional contribution of €50.00.
Press Accreditation
Journalists wishing to attend the workshop may request press accreditation by writing to:
claudio.tirinnanzi@studiumleonexiv.org
The Organising Secretariat will provide all necessary information regarding access and media coverage.
Full Programme and Registration
The detailed programme, timetable and list of speakers are available on the official Indico platform of the Leone XIV International Study Center.
Registration for both the workshop and the Social Dinner can be completed through the same platform.
Programme and Registration on Indico
