Vatican Backs Upcoming International Symposium in South Africa, Urges Delegates to Advance Gospel Witnessing

The event also seeks to create “a just and accountable global debt architecture rooted in equity and the public good; and the development of a Universal School Meals Program as a global commitment to child nutrition and education.”

The outcomes of the symposium, the statement shared with ACI Africa indicates, “will be consolidated into the Cape Town Declaration on Global Justice and Global Solidarity, which will be submitted to G20 Sherpas and national leaders ahead of this year’s G20 Summit,” the intergovernmental forum comprising 19 sovereign countries, the European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU) popularly known as the G20.

Founded in 1999 after the Asian financial crisis of 1997 – 1998 as an informal forum for the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors of the most important industrialised and developing economies to discuss international economic and financial stability, the G20 has membership from the “world’s major economies, representing 85% of global GDP, 75% of international trade, and two-thirds of the world’s population.

The 19 countries of the G20 include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (U.S.). Other entities are the EU, and since 2023, the AU.

Initially, the forum focused largely on broad macroeconomic issues. It has since expanded its agenda; it includes in its agenda trade, climate change, sustainable development, health, agriculture, energy, environment, climate change, and anti-corruption.

Scheduled for 22-23 November 2025, the G20 Johannesburg Summit will be the 20^th G20 meeting.

In the statement issued by the co-conveners of the June 23-24 International Symposium on Global Justice and Solidarity, Fr. Charles Chilufya, one of the event’s co-conveners, is quoted as saying, “This is a pivotal moment for Africa to lead, not follow.”

For the Zambian-born member of the Society of Jesus (SJ/Jesuits), “The G20 must hear from the communities most impacted by debt, hunger, and climate injustice—and take action rooted in dignity and equity.”

In the statement, the conveners recognize SACBC “as a key voice in this global conversation, reinforcing the Church’s longstanding commitment to justice for the poor and marginalized.”

The Director of the SACBC Justice and Peace Commission underscores the Church’s role, saying, “For the Church, advocacy on debt justice, food security, and climate action is not optional—it is a moral obligation.”

“As Pope Francis has repeatedly reminded us, the cry of the poor and the cry of the Earth must be heard together. This symposium is a crucial opportunity for faith voices to shape just and life-giving policy,” Fr. Stanslaus Muyebe, a member of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans – OP), is quoted as saying.

Confirmed speakers at the symposium include high-profile figures such as the Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown, UN Special Envoy for Global Education; Hon. Jim McGovern of the U.S. Congressional Hunger Caucus; and Prof. Jeffrey Sachs of Columbia University;

Other speakers at the event that is to feature senior representatives from the AU, Caritas Africa, the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) and grassroots debt justice campaigns include Prof. Thomas Pogge of Yale University and Dr. Vera Songwe, Chair and Founder of the Liquidity and Sustainability Facility.

In his message also published on June 20, Cardinal Czerny says that the symposium presents a timely opportunity for delegates to highlight the urgent need for peace in a fractured world.

The Czech-born member of the Society of Jesus (SJ/Jesuits) reflects on the ongoing violent conflicts around the world, echoing Pope Francis’ description of them as amounting to “a third world war fought piecemeal.”

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He goes on to refer to Pope Leo XIV’s first words of peace following his May 8 election to underscore the symposium’s responsibility to demonstrate the value of peace across the globe.

“Facing the Third World War fought piecemeal, in the words of Pope Francis, Pope Leo's first reading was that of Jesus: ‘Peace be with you all,’ and he defined it as a disarming, humble, and persevering peace—based, again in the words of Pope Francis, on the disarmament of the heart,” the Vatican DPIHD Prefect says.

“God bless your meeting”, the Cardinal says ahead of the June 23-24 symposium that also has the Global Justice Program at Yale University, Academics Stand against Poverty, and the University of Cape Town among partners.