Catholic Church hosts global conference on missionary reciprocity

The Dicastery for Evangelization, in collaboration with the Center for World Catholicism and Intercultural Theology at DePaul University and various Catholic institutions, is hosting the “Church of the Covoni” conference at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome. The symposium focuses on the evolving nature of missionary work, emphasizing that mission is no longer a one-way movement from traditional centers to the periphery, but a reciprocal exchange of gifts between all parts of the Church.

Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, Secretary of the Dicastery, outlined the conference's vision, which seeks to move beyond outdated cultural patterns toward a model of mutual support and gratitude. The event includes contributions from 14 working groups addressing thematic and regional issues, aiming to establish guiding criteria for mission and synodality. Participants include theologians, priests, religious sisters, and pastoral workers from five continents.