About the event : Il sait porter la croix - Inaugural Invitational Forum
What inspired the creation of the inaugural 'Il sait porter la croix' forum, and why do you believe this conversation is particularly important for Canada today?
We knew that we need to engage business and civic leaders across Canada to use their talents and capabilities to bring the blessings of the Faith to bear on the country. CAPP members have for decades gathered every year in Rome for a strategic briefing with the Pope, and we felt the time was right to start assembling Canadian leaders with similar convictions to receive encouragement here from the Papal Nuncio.
Who is gathering for this event?
Executives, leaders in education and social renewal --- a variety of highly engaged and highly capable people who are in a position to help improve the fraternity, peace and cohesion of the Canadian people through strong Catholic witness and leadership.
What unique opportunities for collaboration do you hope will emerge from these discussions?
The focus is certainly on the sound principles of Catholic Social Teaching -- Subsidiarity, Solidarity, Justice... But beyond theory we are really focused on PRAXIS -- examples of Catholic led social renewal that work.
Co-chair Bill Kovalchuk stressed the importance of remembering the executive bias for action of the people we are bringing together -- the need for ways to apply teaching to the world they live and work in.
Co-chair Tim Egan was emphatic that the gathering should be "as EFFECTIVE as possible".
What makes this gathering with the Papal Nuncio unique and meaningful?
CAPP is absolutely unique as a lay-run Foundation anchored in the Vatican and assisting directly with the Pope's exhortations and priorities. As waves of seismic upheaval have gone through post - Cold War Christendom, CAPP has always been the vanguard of trying to restore human flourishing and charity in all the lands served.
The blessing and encouragement from the Nuncio remind us we are assured of the prayers and solicitude of His Holiness always.
Are you hopeful and optimistic about the promotion of Catholic Social Teaching in Canada?
It is hard not to be!
The strength of the chapters across Europe and in the US show that the potential for engaging Catholic lay leaders, especially in business, through the Foundation. Canada desperately needs the full deployment of the Faith and the recent tide of converts attest to this hunger.
The impact and effect from the gathering we hope to see is a COLLEGIAL reinforcement and mutual encouragement across a cohort of leaders who frankly have an Apostolic calling to help Canada in this time.
Our co-chairs agree that this is a pivotal, promising moment.
Miles Smit, member of CAPP-Canada
