“The challenges of the Pan-Amazonian Region: necessary cooperation between International Organizations and the Catholic Church and ethical leadership” is the theme of the seminar that will take place on 19 October in the atrium of the Paul VI Hall of the Vatican, in the context of the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon.

The initiative, conceived by the Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI Vatican Foundation, is organized together with the Secretariat of the Synod, but also includes the Holy See Observer in the international organizations present in Rome (FAO, IFAD, WFP), the Open Reason Institute of Madrid and the support of the Templeton Foundation, within the framework of a project aimed at training in “virtuous leadership”.

The meeting will be opened by Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, and introduced by Cardinal Pedro Ricardo Barreto Jimeno, president delegate of the Synod and vicar president of the Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network (REPAM). René Castro-Salazar, FAO assistant director general for Climate, Biodiversity, Land and Water, will then speak on “The FAO in the Pan-Amazon Region: concordance between Laudato si' and Agenda 2030”, Mattia Prayer Galletti, IFAD senior technical specialist, will present “IFAD's commitment to indigenous peoples” and finally Francisco Torralba, professor of sociology at the Ramon Llull University of Barcelona, will consider the theme “Ethical leadership at the service of the common home, in the light of the Magisterium of Pope Francis”.

The conclusion of the seminar, which will be moderated by Father Federico Lombardi, S.J., president of the Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI Vatican Foundation, will be led by Msgr. Fernando Chica Arellano, Holy See Permanent Observer at the FAO, IFAD and WFP.

The event will conclude with a special concert for the Synod of the Palmarito & Urubichà Orchestra and Choirs, Bolivia.