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The Spirit that Renews the Mission

Wednesday, 20th August 2025

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The International Academy of Catholic Leaders is experiencing a time of grace and discernment. We are not simply talking about reorganizing structures, but rather about an inner purification, returning to the living source that gave us our origin, rediscovering our reason for being, and preparing a new generation of Christian leaders who serve the world with the truth that liberates and the charity that transforms. This mission is not "a pretty idea" or "a romantic dream"; it is a concrete vocation entrusted to us by the Church, which asks us for intelligence, prayer, study, and service. In this journey, the Academic Council is both the pillar and core, the place where reflection becomes listening, where dreams are in sync with faith, and the Gospel illuminates our teaching.

An Academic Council is not a decorative figure or an institutional formality; it is the living conscience of a community that desires to serve the common good. When thinking becomes hasty and superficial, the Council reminds us that the formation of leaders demands depth, serious dialogue, an interdisciplinary perspective, and a vision of the person rooted in faith. We do not seek merely brilliant professionals or sharp critics, but hearts that know how to discern and act with the wisdom of the Gospel. Jesus taught us, "Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all" (Mark 9:35). True leadership, in the eyes of God, is not about dominating but serving, and when someone becomes a humble servant, an authentic leader is born. The Academic Council is the guardian of this vision; it ensures that every formative proposal is an invitation to serve, to live in justice and truth.

Some people ask us if a Catholic academy makes sense in such a secularized world. We respond to them with the words of Pope Francis, “Let us not allow ourselves to be robbed of hope!” (Evangelii Gaudium, 86). Hope is not naiveté or empty optimism; it is the certainty that God's love continues to act in history, even when everything seems adverse. This hope sustains us, and it is the treasure we wish to pass on to those who learn with us.

Our mission is informed by the Social Doctrine of the Church. More than a century of wisdom reminds us that faith does not run away from the world, but rather fertilizes it from within. Leo XIII, in Rerum Novarum, taught us that social justice is inseparable from human dignity, which can never be reduced to a part of the economic system. This holistic perspective informs the work of the Academic Council. We aim to cultivate leaders who can unite faith and culture, thought and social commitment, with a critical yet compassionate sensitivity to the challenges of our time.

In Caritas in Veritate, Benedict XVI left us these words: “Charity in truth . . . is the principal driving force behind the authentic development of every person and of all humanity” (CV, 1). This is our compass. For any formation not born out of love becomes a distant accumulation of data, and any charity without truth dissolves into sentimentality. The Academic Council exists so that both may walk together, so that intelligence may be illuminated by faith, and so that faith may express itself through reason and discernment in the world.

We are not, nor do we want to be, an Academy that closes in upon itself, concerned only with meaningless titles or programs. Our task is greater: to think, to dialogue, and to form men and women who, through their faith, are a leaven of justice, peace, and dignity. Pope Francis has said it clearly, “It is not by proselytizing that the Church grows, but by attraction” (EG, 14). We want to be that place of attraction, not by imposing ideas, but by showing that academic excellence, spiritual life, and social commitment can unite in a single vocation.

Today we feel the urgency of returning to the Academic Council its role as an intellectual and spiritual beacon. This is not just about maintaining a structure, but about reviving the spirit that sustains it. We envision it as a place where the best thinkers and professionals come together in service to a mission that transcends them, a mission rooted in faith and reason, dialogue, and hope.

After the series of events we have experienced in recent months, many of our academics have returned, and with them, we wish to rebuild a communion not based on nostalgia, but on a certain promise of the future. To those who are still distant, hesitant, we humbly call out. We need your voices, your perspective, and your passion. This Academy was born from the richness of many disciplines and knowledge: theologians, philosophers, economists, educators, social leaders, and actors in the political, business, and cultural spheres. All of them, each in their own vocation, helped and continue to help form a new generation of Catholic leaders.

Our mission is not exhausted in prayer—although prayer sustains it. We are called to think, to dialogue, to offer training that produces leaders with the heart of Christ. Jesus left us the example, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). This is the model we wish to transmit: humble service that does not seek its own glory, but rather the good of others.

We acknowledge that there are voices that have distanced themselves from us or view our project with reservations, and we recognize that doubts may arise from a sincere desire to seek the best. We want to reach out to all of them with serenity and with the certainty that our mission is not defended with arguments, but with the coherence of a vocation that transcends us. We do not work to preserve a structure, but to safeguard a spirit that unites faith and culture and is called to illuminate the lives of people and society.

The Academic Council, in this context, serves as the guardian of the vision. It is there that programs are developed, coherence is maintained, and dreams of a more just and fraternal society are envisioned. Saint Paul encourages us, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Gal 6:9). This perseverance is the spirit we wish to spread.

Our diploma programs are the fruit of this commitment. They are not born from improvisation, but from patient work and profound vision. Leadership is not improvised; it is formed through study and interior life. The universities that partner with us recognize in these programs more than academic quality. They see in them a mission of transformation. Each diploma program is, at its core, a promise of service.

By regaining its place, the Academic Council will be a space for intellectual innovation and spiritual discernment. We want all who love the Church and desire to serve society to find here a place of dialogue and learning. To those who view us with reservations, we say that our doors are open to dialogue. We want to grow, but without ever losing fidelity to the Gospel. Jesus reminds us, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (Jn 14:6).

Today, in this time of refoundation, we extend an invitation to everyone, to those who are here and to those who once walked among us. The future does not depend on a few names, but on a community of minds and hearts that share an ideal: to form Catholic leaders with the heart of Christ, capable of uniting faith and reason, justice and mercy, truth and charity.

“The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus” (EG, 1), says Pope Francis. We want that joy to be the soul of our mission. We do not work for power or prestige, but for the joy of serving and bearing fruit for the Kingdom.

The Academic Council is, ultimately, the soul of the Academy. Through it, we dialogue with culture, discern challenges, and open ourselves to the future. We want every academic to feel that their voice contributes to something great, something that touches the lives of people and communities. Therefore, we renew our invitation. Let us think together, let us believe in the power of faith and intelligence. May the Academic Council be a beacon of truth and hope, a place where every decision is born from the desire to serve better.

Mario Jesús Paredes

Mario Jesús Paredes

Chief Executive Officer of SOMOS

CEO of SOMOS Community Care and Secretary of the Dr. Ramon Tallaj Foundation, brings over 30 years of executive experience in healthcare administration. A seasoned leader in business development, his expertise spans international diplomacy, finance, philanthropy, and healthcare. Throughout his career, he has collaborated extensively with nonprofits, governmental organizations, and religious institutions, driving impactful initiatives and fostering strategic partnerships.
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