A Historic Audience with Pope Francis: IMCS Pax Romana’s Vision for Youth, Faith, and Social Justice
A Historic Audience with Pope Francis:
IMCS Pax Romana’s Vision for Youth, Faith, and Social Justice
On September 20, 2024, IMCS Pax Romana had the extraordinary privilege of a private audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican. This historic event was more than a meeting; it was a resounding endorsement from the Church for IMCS Pax Romana’s mission to inspire young Catholics to lead in building a more just, compassionate, and inclusive world. Pope Francis’s message was profound, serving as both a call to action and a blessing on IMCS Pax Romana’s commitment to youth-led advocacy and Catholic social teaching.
Pope Francis’s Vision for Young Catholics: A Revolution of Charity and Service
Addressing IMCS members, Pope Francis acknowledged the organisation’s dedication to social justice and human development, emphasising the value of their faith-inspired efforts in a world often marked by division and indifference. He urged young Catholics to be “protagonists of the revolution of charity and service,” echoing the Church’s 2018 Synod on Young People, which stressed the importance of youth as catalysts of change. This vision resonated deeply with IMCS Pax Romana’s mission, affirming that their advocacy aligns with a broader Church movement to create compassionate leaders through faith and action.
Pope Francis highlighted IMCS Pax Romana’s global impact, particularly through its educational centres in Pax Romana Centennial Centre (PRCC), France, the International Youth Training Centre (IYTC), Thailand, and Kenya. Here, young leaders are formed in the Gospel’s message of peace and service and empowered to tackle issues like poverty, inequality, and human rights violations. By promoting a culture of global citizenship, IMCS Pax Romana bridges faith and real-world challenges, reinforcing the Pope’s vision of faith in action.
Engaging in the Synod on Synodality: Walking Together with the Church
During the audience, Pope Francis emphasised the Synod on Synodality, inviting IMCS Pax Romana to engage deeply in this journey of “walking together.” He urged IMCS members to participate in open dialogue, discernment, and communal reflection as they work alongside the Church to address today’s pressing needs. This synodal journey, he noted, is an opportunity for young Catholics to contribute their voices and insights, ensuring that the Church remains open and adaptable to the concerns of its followers.
Preparing for the Holy Year 2025: A Call for Renewal and Spiritual Enrichment
Pope Francis encouraged IMCS members to view the Holy Year 2025 as a “privileged opportunity for personal renewal and spiritual enrichment.” This invitation is especially significant, as the Holy Year’s theme focuses on unity and pilgrimage, symbolised by the Holy Door. Pope Francis reminded attendees that this Door serves as a reminder of the Church’s journey toward transformation—a journey requiring active engagement from youth.
A Mission of Peace, Justice, and Human Rights
In closing, Pope Francis invoked blessings on IMCS Pax Romana’s work, expressing hope that their efforts will foster “peace, harmony, justice, human rights, and mercy” worldwide. He entrusted the group to Mary, Queen of Peace, and drew inspiration from Blessed Giorgio Frassati, a Catholic youth and social activist symbolising IMCS’s spirit. This blessing strengthens the organisation’s resolve to champion the rights of marginalised communities and advocate for justice globally.
A Catalyst for Global Catholic Youth Action
For IMCS Pax Romana, this audience with Pope Francis is a high honour and a call to action. It solidifies the organisation’s role as a global leader in Catholic youth activism, emphasising its potential to shape the Church’s future and inspire a new generation of young Catholics. This meeting energises IMCS Pax Romana’s members, instilling a renewed sense of purpose to bridge faith and social justice.
IMCS Pax Romana is committed to using this monumental encounter as a springboard for intensified promotion, advocacy, and engagement with Catholic youth worldwide. Pope Francis’s words resonate as an endorsement of IMCS Pax Romana’s mission and as an invitation to further expand the organisation’s reach, ensuring that young Catholics everywhere are empowered to be agents of positive change in their communities and in the world.
Geneva Pax Catholica Forum: A Commitment to Peace and Disarmament
Date: October 25, 2024Venue: Franciscan International Office, Geneva (Hybrid)Hosted by IMCS Pax Romana, Pax Christi Movement, and Franciscan International in partnership with the International Peace Bureau (IPB) and the International
Strategic Meeting with His Eminence Cardinal Berhaneyesus Suraphel D. CM
Santa Marta, Vatican City | October 13, 2024 IMCS Pax Romana is pleased to report on a significant and fruitful meeting with His Eminence Cardinal Berhaneyesus Suraphel D. CM, President
Empowering the Laity: IMCS Pax Romana at the Lay Mission and Vocation Conference on Synodality
Rome, Italy | October 9–13, 2024 From October 9 to 13, 2024, IMCS Pax Romana had the privilege of participating in the Lay Mission and Vocation Conference & Catholic Social
International Youth Day 2024 Global Webinar: Turning Clicks into Progress
Theme: “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development”Date: August 12, 2024 On August 12, 2024, IMCS Pax Romana proudly hosted the International Youth Day 2024 global webinar,
Youth for Democracy and Diversity: the JECI-MIEC Summer Camp
Krutyń, Poland | August 5–11, 2024 From August 5 to 11, 2024, IMCS Pax Romana had the joy of joining the JECI-MIEC European Coordination Summer Camp in the picturesque town
IMCS Pax Romana Joins Global Effort for Peace at Nagasaki Catholic Peace Forum
Nagasaki, Japan | August 10, 2024 On August 10, 2024, IMCS Pax Romana had the privilege of participating in the Nagasaki Catholic Peace Forum (CPF), held at Otsugeno Maria Syuudoujyokai
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IMCS human rights internship program in Geneva for Sri Lankan HRDs – March 2024
Ruki Fernando:
From 3rd to 10th March 2024, International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS) – Pax Romana hosted and supported team of seven Sri Lankan Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) for a human rights internship to learn, experience and use UN human rights mechanisms based in Geneva, Switzerland. The team included Ruki Fernando as team leader, an interpreter and diverse team of five young HRDs. The five HRDs were all grassroots activists, visiting Europe for 1st time (most overseas for the 1st time). They were from different areas in Sri Lanka and were victims of rights violations or from victimized communities. They attended 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), made two oral statements during the UNHRC, submitted one written statement to the UNHRC, met UN staff from Special Procedures, Treaty bodies and Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). They also met a British diplomat who have been working on Sri Lanka for long time, Geneva based NGOs, two HRDs from Rohingya community and Manipur and attended side events at the UNHRC.
Oral statement during interactive dialogue with Special Rapportuer on Freedom of Religion or Belief
IMCS assisted with providing accreditation to the UN, making arrangements to submit the written statement and make two oral statements. During the weekend, IMCS hosted them in IMCS International centre in La Roche, France, for some rest and de-briefing session. IMCS also assisted with logistical arrangements such as accommodation, transport, welcoming at airport, occasional interpretation and general accompaniment. The five participants were selected from amongst more than thirty who had undergone an introductory course on UN Human Rights mechanisms in Sri Lanka in December 2023 – January 2024. Participants are now in process of engaging in follow up activities in Sri Lanka.
My involvement in conceptualizing and organizing this initiative was inspired by my participation in Pax Romana human rights internship in Geneva many years ago and subsequent attempts at training HRDs from Sri Lanka and Asia on UN human rights mechanisms and assisting individual HRDs in undertaking lobby visits to Geneva. Outgoing and former IMCS team members Ravi and Budi provided valuable assistance and advise in organizing the program in Geneva.
Oral statement during interactive dialogue with Special Rapportuer on Right to Housing
The initiative was sponsored by Bread for the World (BfW) in Germany. After the visit in Geneva, BfW had organized a visit to Berlin in Germany, including meetings with the German foreign ministry official working on Sri Lanka, a German MP, German NGOs and Sri Lankan diaspora in Germany. The team also had a chance to join a customized study tour about memorialization for past rights violations in Germany and session on European institutions dealing with human rights.
Links:
Oral statement during interactive dialogue with Special Rapportuer on Freedom of Religion or Belief https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k16/k160flweyj – Mins 01.02.18 onwards. Text in Annex 1
Oral statement during interactive dialogue with Special Rapportuer on Right to Housing https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k15/k15m87qyxk – Mins 01.18.09 onwards. Text in Annex 2
Written statement https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/g24/029/39/pdf/g2402939.pdf?token=xqHdQ8IGbxNS2tcP4H&fe=true – Text in Annex 3
Global Study Session & World Assembly
According to the statutes of IMCS/MIEC Pax Romana, its World Assembly, the highest decision-making body of the Movement, is scheduled to take place this year.
- Theme: “Global Climate Emergency – Capacity building of tertiary students to be advocates for environmental, social, cultural, political and economic justice”
- Venue: International Youth Training Centre (IYTC), Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Date: 3rd to 9th of July 2023
Considering the threat of climate change to all life and mother earth, IMCS Pax Romana through the theme as mentioned above shall conduct global study session in response to the emergency. Within the precincts of the Global Study Session, IMCS Pax Romana is expecting to achieve the following objectives through its collaborations;
- Awareness building on climate change and global climate emergency
- Equipping participants with necessary analytical tools for understanding issues
- Skill building to respond to climate change-related issues
- Creating a global plan of action of 4 years
- Getting the members of IMCS network and partner networks engaging in local, national and international climate change advocacy and actions.
The study session shall be followed by the statutory session which provides the necessary guidelines to Global Catholic Tertiary students to make the organizational decisions. This session is considered an Assembly and the following are some of the objectives to be achieved through the statutory session.
- Election of International President, Secretary General and Ecclesiastical Assistant.
- Evaluating IMCS Pax Romana as a Movement and making necessary decisions for addressing the issues and the needs of the Movement at National, Regional and International levels for the coming 4-years.
- Reviewing IMCS General Statutes and making necessary amendments.
- Designing and approving IMCS Pax Romana Plan of Action 2024 – 2027
As a Movement, we understand that “Climate change is an existential threat to all life and the earth”, and we cannot stress this enough. Hence, to reinforce our climate actions, and set in motion strategies we’re gathering students and partners in Chiang Mai, Thailand in July.
For further information about sponsorship, participation or collaboration, kindly contact IMCS-MIEC Pax Romana via office.imcsmiec@gmail.com or office@imcs-miec.org
International Preparatory Meeting for World Youth Day Lisboa2023 held in Fatima
The Local Organizing Committee aimed to share, to dream, plan and pray for the next World Youth Day (WYD) 2023 in Lisbon, and how we can plan to bring pilgrims. All applications and registrations including Days in the Dioceses, Youth Festival, City of Joy Vocational Fair, Volunteers can be found the website Lisboa 2023 website. The Secretary-General, Victor Ayertey, represented Pax Romana in Fatima, Portugal during the International Preparatory meeting in Fatima. The WYD is the gathering of young people from all over the world with the Pope. It is also a pilgrimage, a celebration of youth, an expression of the universal Church and an intense moment of evangelization for the youth world. The WYD is August 1 – 6 2023 with the pre-WYD Days in the Diocese from 26 – 31 July 2023.
The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) opened positions for volunteers for long, medium and short terms who will serve on various committees before and during the World Youth Day. IMCS Pax Romana is doing its best to recommend volunteers and organize pilgrims as a Movement to participate in the WYD Lisboa2023.
Visit here for more information https://www.lisboa2023.org/en
Joint letter to Italian movements COVID
