A View from Rome

Welcoming leaders in Rome to the Catholic Partnership Summit

Overlooking Saint Peter’s Square with the iconic Saint Peter’s Basilica rising in the background, a group of leaders gathered in-person in Rome on September 28 and 29 as part of the 2021 Catholic Partnership Summit.

The virtual format of the 2021 Partnership Summit afforded Leadership Roundtable a unique opportunity to involve even more leaders than in the past, particularly through an in-person gathering in Rome that connected to the main event online.

During the two-day Summit, 30 leaders joined the event from Rome, meeting at the Center for Missionary Animation (CIAM) at the Pontifical Urbaniana University. Those gathered were able to virtually attend the first and third sessions of the Summit, and participate in special receptions each evening.

Additionally, Sr. Nathalie Becquart, XMCJ, under-secretary to the General Secretariat of the Vatican Synod of Bishops gave a special presentation to those gathered in Rome about the 2021-2023 Synod and Pope Francis’ call to a synodal journey.

“The chance to gather in-person, at a stunning venue, and meet with leaders such as Sr. Nathalie was a deeply meaningful opportunity,” said Kerry Robinson, an executive partner at Leadership Roundtable. “It allowed for a prominent and diverse group of international leaders to strengthen relationships and imagine new ways of serving the Church in the Holy See and across the globe through the instrument of Leadership Roundtable.”

Robinson hosted the event together with Nicole Perone, national coordinator of ESTEEM (Engaging Students to Enliven the Ecclesial Mission). ESTEEM is a program of Leadership Roundtable in collaboration with Saint Thomas More Catholic Chapel and Center at Yale University.

Among those who attended included leaders from:

• Vatican dicasteries
• international Catholic charitable agencies
• religious orders
• the diplomatic corps.

This piece was originally published in the 2021 Summit Report.