Faith, Consumption and Digital Culture: Reconfiguring Religious Debates in Platformed Societies

An International Symposium by the NetCath Project (SACRU Network)

April 29, 10:00–12:00
Cowork Room, Faculty of Communications, UC Chile (Santiago)

This international symposium explores how digital platforms are reshaping the communication, identity, and consumption of religion in contemporary societies. Hosted by the Faculty of Communications at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, the event is part of the NetCath project, a transcontinental netnographic study examining how Catholic universities engage with digital culture across Latin America and Europe.

The NetCath project is funded by the XXII Concurso de Investigación y Creación para Académicos of the Dirección de Pastoral y Cultura Cristiana (UC Chile), and comparatively studies four institutions: Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Italy), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, and Universitat Ramon Llull (Spain).

Focusing on the challenges faced by research-intensive Catholic universities, the symposium examines how institutional identities and missions are communicated in platformed environments, particularly to Generation Z audiences. It invites reflection on how algorithms, social media practices, and digital cultures are transforming religious authority, participation, and meaning-making.

The discussion brings together leading scholars from the SACRU network and partner institutions, contributing to ongoing debates on religion, media, and digital society, and fostering collaborative research on the future of faith in platformed worlds.

Speakers:

  • Liliana De Simone (UC Chile, NetCath Project Lead)
  • Miriam Díez-Bosch (Blanquerna Observatory on Media, Religion and Culture, Universitat Ramon Llull)

Discussant:

  • Rayen Condeza (UNESCO Chair in Media and Information Literacy in Digital Spaces, UC Chile)

Organised by: OCCS – Observatory of Consumption, Culture and Society (FCOM UC Chile)
In collaboration with: Blanquerna Observatory, STReaM Research Group, and the SACRU Network.

This event is part of a broader research agenda advancing comparative, interdisciplinary approaches to digital Catholic identity, platform communication, and the technocultural transformation of religion.

Easter Wishes from SACRU President

March 2026

In the face of the anxiety our times call forth, nature inspires us with quiet confidence.  The newly arrived Spring with its mild warmth reminds us that, even after the most ravaging and uncertain periods, after the storms, in nature as in life, life is reborn with a serene and inevitable strength.

As the Gospel of Matthew teaches us in the Sermon on the Mount, “Consider how the lilies of the field grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” (Mt 6, 28–29).

At Easter, we are called to trust, to rest in the certainty that there is a time to rest and overcome, and that blooming often happens quietly, yet with profound beauty.

May this be our guiding motto this Easter: to nurture hope, to lighten the weight of our worries, and to let the light of renewal lead us. Like nature, we too are made of new beginnings.

Wishing you a blessed and joyful Easter.

SACRU President, Prof. Isabel Capeloa Gil

On Vulnerability and Healthcare

A Statement by the SACRU Working Group 1

 

The published article is available > here

The publication originated from April 7, 2025 seminar> here

A new statement titled “On Vulnerability and Healthcare” has been published by the SACRU Working Group 1, dedicated to this theme. The document reflects the outcome of a collaborative seminar hosted by the Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities (SACRU), during the Jubilee of the Sick and Health Care Workers on April 7, 2025,  bringing together scholars and doctoral researchers from across the alliance.

The statement explores the concept of vulnerability as a key ethical lens for reflecting on contemporary healthcare challenges. Moving beyond the idea of vulnerability as mere fragility, the document highlights its relational and social dimensions, emphasizing how recognizing human vulnerability can foster responsibility, trust, and care within healthcare systems.

The article has been published in the open-access quarterly journal Il Dizionario di dottrina sociale della Chiesa. Le cose nuove del XXI secolo, produced by the Centro di Ateneo per la Dottrina Sociale della Chiesa and supported by the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and the Istituto Giuseppe Toniolo di Studi Superiori.

Publication details:
Issue: Fascicolo 2025, 4 (October–December 2025)
First online publication: December 2025
ISSN: 2784-8884
DOI: 10.26350/dizdott_000195

The publication builds on interdisciplinary dialogue among researchers working on topics such as medical ethics, healthcare policy, genetic testing, end-of-life care, and social justice in healthcare. Through this exchange, the Working Group seeks to contribute to a broader reflection on how healthcare institutions and research communities can respond more effectively to human vulnerability while promoting dignity and the common good.

This initiative forms part of SACRU’s ongoing commitment to fostering international academic collaboration and addressing global ethical challenges through research grounded in human dignity and social responsibility.

 

Collective Statement on Freedom of Inquiry 

Outcome Statement of the SACRU Autumn School 2025

The mission of the Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities (SACRU) is to “foster global cooperation amongst the partners with the goal of advancing world leading knowledge and higher education for the common good.” For member institutions to pursue this mission, both academics and research students must conduct their inquiries freely. Freedom of inquiry is necessary for researchers to search for truth, to collaborate across the SACRU network, and to facilitate the contribution that research makes beyond the bounds of academia, to the good of all.

More precisely, university researchers must be free from compulsion and free to conduct research in accord with good academic practice. All researchers face certain pressures. These may come from governmental policies, the priorities of private funders, the academic job market, and other fronts. In this sense, no research takes place in a vacuum. Yet if researchers have their conclusions dictated to them in advance, are unable to ask questions that are fitting to their subject matter, or have specific methodologies ruled out arbitrarily by those who wield power, then researchers face the sort of compulsion they must resist. The same pressures may also weaken the collaboration on which a network such as SACRU depends: they can discourage intellectual exchange, inhibit joint work across institutions and disciplines, and make researchers less willing to pursue shared inquiry where such work may prove inconvenient. Where this happens, not only individual projects but also the common academic vocation of universities is placed at risk. Researchers are right to resist coercion for the sake of the integrity of the research enterprise itself. Disciplined, thoughtful examination of data and the articulation of honest conclusions become something other than research when compulsion undermines the process. Researchers need to be able to ask questions and even consider philosophical questions about what it means to know something. Surely, though, knowledge cannot entail that a pre-existing agenda cancels out inquiry by foreclosing the process of reflective exploration. Catholic Social Teaching underlines the value of pursuing the truth, the dignity of intellectual labour, solidarity with others, and the orientation of knowledge toward the common good. It therefore supports forms of academic life in which inquiry can be pursued responsibly, collaboratively, and in service of human dignity. The common good, in Catholic teaching, concerns the social conditions that allow persons and groups to reach their fulfilment more readily and fully.

Researchers who enjoy freedom of inquiry also take upon themselves two types of responsibilities. First, they are responsible to conduct their research with integrity and to avoid questionable research practices such as selective reporting. Failure to do so undermines the credibility of particular researchers and weakens the esteem in which the public holds research in general. Second, researchers are responsible to the societies in which they are embedded. Researchers should be especially mindful of those on the margins of society, for they cannot readily speak for themselves. University-based academics have a duty, wherever possible and appropriate, to ensure that the results of research are shared in ways that can benefit society beyond the academy. This responsibility is consistent with Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which affirms that everyone has the right to “share in scientific advancement and its benefits,” and with the related right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications. Researchers best serve society and its good not by offering various interest groups what they most want to hear but rather by pursuing the truth first and foremost while also examining its application locally and globally.

The participants in the SACRU autumn school of 2025 recognize that freedom of inquiry is under significant threat in many of the contexts in which our universities are based. These pressures take different forms, but they share a common feature: they seek to narrow the space in which genuine inquiry, fruitful collaboration, and the responsible communication of knowledge to society can occur. We therefore join our voices to those who are courageously resisting compulsion and insist that freedom of inquiry is neither a luxury, nor a privilege to be granted selectively, but a necessary condition of responsible research, of meaningful scholarly cooperation, and of the university’s service to the common good. It is a right that we as researchers ought to have and that must be protected, even as such freedom confers on us responsibilities which we must all strive conscientiously to fulfill.

Autumn School Scientific Committee

Prof. Gomarasca Paolo

Prof. Sarisky Darren

Laudato Sì Global Alliance Launch: Global network for integral ecology

9-10 March 2026

Giardini Castel Gandolfo, Rome, Italy

From left to right:
Hanqin Tian [Boston College], Susan Pan [Boston College], Isabel Capeloa Gil [SACRU President], Caterina Bracchi [Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore], Ilaria Beretta [Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore], Philip Landrigan [Boston College]

The Laudato Sì Global Alliance is an international initiative dedicated to integral ecology and global sustainability, promoted by the Laudato si’ Center for Advanced Studies and the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

The inaugural event took place on March 9-10 at at Borgo Laudato Si’ in Castel Gandolfo, the President of SACRU and representatives from Boston College, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, the Catholic University of Portugal, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, and PUC Rio de Janeiro participated in the event along with representatives from over 60 universities in Europe, Asia, America, and Africa, as well as representatives from leading international organizations involved in combating the climate crisis.

The Global Alliance was created to connect universities, research centers, communities, and institutions committed to promoting sustainable practices. It seeks to strengthen collaboration between research, education, and community action in order to expand the global impact of integral ecology.

During the event, the President of SACRU, Prof. Isabel Capeloa Gil, presented the results and report of the SACRU Working Group on Integral Ecology, chaired by Prof. Lilian Ferrer of PUC Chile.

From left to right:
Gautam N. Yadama [Boston College], Isabel Capeloa Gil [SACRU President], Cardinal Fabio Baggio [General Director of the Laudato si’ Center for Higher Education], Philip Landrigan [Boston College], Hanqin Tian [Boston College], Susan Pan [Boston College]

 

2026 EDSI Annual Conference

Católica Porto Business School (Porto, Portugal) announces the call for the conference Human-Centric and AI-Enabled Supply Chains

June 1 – 3, 2026
Católica Porto Business School (Porto, Portugal)

Abstract Submission: February 28th, 2026 (extended deadline).

Global supply chains are being reshaped by technological advancements, environmental pressures, and evolving societal expectations. Businesses face rising demands for transparency, ethical practices, and resilience amid ongoing disruptions, inflationary pressures, and regulatory changes across key markets. The urgency of climate change, the increasing importance of human rights, and the acceleration of digitalization are driving a fundamental rethinking of operations and supply chain strategies. Legislation such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, and national due diligence laws reflect a growing international consensus on the need for responsible business conduct. Meanwhile, the Industry 5.0 vision calls for a human-centric, resilient, and sustainable approach to innovation and production. In this evolving context, organizations must navigate complex and interdependent challenges, balancing operational resilience, environmental sustainability, and social responsibility across multi-tier, global supply networks. This demands integrated strategies, new technologies, and a reimagining of supply chain governance, risk management, and performance measurement.

This conference invites academic and practice-based contributions that explore the future of global supply chains at the intersection of resilience, sustainability, and human rights. Submissions may address (but are not limited to) corporate due diligence frameworks, supply chain risk management, sustainable procurement, labor rights and environmental protection, technology for compliance, governmental policies and transparency, circular economy initiatives, and case studies from industries facing critical social and environmental challenges.

Register here!

Contacts: edsi2026@ucp.pt

 

COLLOQUIA Conference 2026

IEP announces the call for the conference Restless World, Restless Democracies

8 May 2026

Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Lisbon Campus

The call for papers is open until March 16, 2026.

This interdisciplinary conference examines the condition of political restlessness shaping contemporary democracies in an increasingly unstable and conflict-prone international environment.

We invite scholars and researchers from a variety of sub-disciplines of Political Science and International Relations – Comparative Politics, Theory of IR, Political Theory and Political Philosophy, Public Policy, Foreign Policy Analysis, Regional Studies, Peace & War Studies, etc – to submit proposals for papers that engage, from diverse perspectives, with these topics (but are not limited to): Democratic Challenges | Geopolitics and the International Order & Intersecting Dynamics.

Check all available sub-themes on our Website.

We invite abstracts for individual (approximately 250 words) and a short biography (100 words). These should be sent by email to ci.iep@ucp.pt no later than March 16, 2026

Notification of acceptance will be sent on March 31, 2026, at the latest. After acceptance of abstracts, participants will be asked to register for the conference and to provide some personal details to this end.

About the Conference: 

• The working language of the conference is English.

• The conference will feature thematic panels composed of individual paper presentations followed by discussions. In addition to paper presentations, it will also have one keynote speaker and opportunities for networking.

• Individual paper presentations will be allocated 15 minutes for presentation. Each panel will have 40 minutes for discussion.

Registration and Fees:

The registration fee includes participation, coffee breaks, lunch and conference materials.

• Early bird (from March 31 to April 7, 2026): Researchers €80 and Students €40

• Regular registration (from April 7 to 17, 2026): Researchers €100 and Students €50

• IEP-Católica researchers and faculty are exempted from registration fees but must register.

Calendar: Final call: March 16, 2026

Notification of acceptance: March 31, 2026

Registration from March 31 to April 17, 2026

Contact Information: For any inquiries, please contact the conference organizing committee at to ci.iep@ucp.pt

We look forward to receiving your submissions and to fostering meaningful discussions on the critical issues of sovereignty, borders, and conflict.

In remembrance of Prof. JOSEP ANTONI ROM


Condoglianze Universitat Ramon Llull

 

On behalf of all members of the Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities (SACRU), I wish to express our deep sorrow at the sudden passing of our dear friend and colleague, Professor Josep Antoni Rom, Rector of Universitat Ramon Llull.
Josep was an eminent scholar and an esteemed Rector. He played an active role in the growth and success of SACRU, generously participating in the strategy and initiatives of the Alliance. We will greatly miss his intellect, sensitivity, authenticity, kindness.
Our deep thoughts and prayers are with his family, his friends, and all the Ramon Llull’s academic community.

Isabel Capeloa Gil
SACRU President

SACRU Initiatives Multiply Ahead of the Jubilee of the World of Education


Piazza San Pietro a Roma

 

The Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities (SACRU) will be promoting a series of initiatives in Rome during the Jubilee of the World of Education. In addition to the Autumn School “The Freedom of Scientific Research” at the Australian Catholic University campus in Rome, on October 29 at 5:30 p.m. SACRU will be officially presented at Villa Lusa the residence of the Embassy of Portugal to the Holy See at the invitation of the SACRU President, Prof. Isabel Capeloa Gil. The event will provide a special opportunity to introduce SACRU and its activities to diplomatic representatives to the Holy See, as well as to distinguished invited guests. The evening aims to foster dialogue and collaboration between the academic and diplomatic communities, highlighting SACRU’s commitment to advancing education, research, and ethical leadership on a global scale.

The day after, SACRU has been invited by the Dicastery for Culture and Education to take part in the Global Educational Village “Constellations of Educational Networks.” The exhibition will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Sala San Pio X, Via dell’Ospedale 1, offering SACRU the opportunity to showcase its commitment to higher education and international research, and to foster encounters and collaborations with other educational networks. Within this framework, on Friday, October 31 at 4:30 p.m., a presentation entitled “SACRU. Science for the Common Good” will highlight the network’s most significant experiences and innovative projects, encouraging interest and active engagement among participants. All the SACRU universities delegations will participate to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV audience with educators on Friday morning.

Debating the Freedom of Scientific Research. SACRU Autumn School 2025


Veduta di Roma e dei suoi palazzi dall'alto con il Vaticano sullo sfondo

 

Building on the success of its first edition in Lisbon in 2024, the SACRU Autumn School 2025 will take place at the Roman campus of the Australian Catholic University (ACU) during the Jubilee of the World of Education.

Under the theme “The Freedom of Scientific Research”, the Autumn School will explore how political, economic, and ethical pressures increasingly shape research today. Participants will examine the global dynamics of academic freedom, the impact of funding frameworks, the ethical balance between truth, value, and the common good, and the growing influence of AI in research.

Co-organized by the scientific co-ordinators Prof. Paolo Gomarasca (Università Cattolica) and Dr. Darren Sariski (ACU), the program will gather fourteen Ph.D. students and ten academics and researchers from across SACRU member universities: from Australia to Colombia, from Portugal to Japan, from Spain to the United States, from Chile to Italy.

Through lectures, workshops, case studies, and interactive sessions, the program will offer young scholars critical tools to reflect on their academic paths and to navigate the evolving landscape of research with integrity and independence. At its core, the SACRU Summer School seeks to answer a vital question: How can young researchers secure academic freedom while ensuring career sustainability in an increasingly regulated research environment?