In response to the many appeals addressed by Pope Leo XIV to the entire People of God—inviting a renewed appreciation of the enduring relevance of the Social Doctrine of the Church in addressing the challenges of contemporary society—the International Study Center Pope Leo XIV has been established at the Convent of Santo Spirito in Florence. Its aim is to promote, at both national and international levels, a high-level formation in social and political life.
The official presentation of the new Center will take place on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at 11:30 a.m., in the Sala di Lorenzo at Palazzo Vecchio in Florence.
The event will be opened by Sara Funaro, Mayor of Florence, who will offer a welcome address.
Additional speakers will include:
- Alessandro Lombardi, Vice General Vicar of the Archdiocese of Florence, on “The International Study Center Pope Leo XIV and the local Church of Florence”;
- Joseph Farfelli, Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine, on “The current commitment of the Augustinians in Florence and at Santo Spirito”;
- Gabriele Pedicino, Provincial of the Italian Augustinian Province, on “The Italian Augustinians in Florence”;
- Giuseppe Pagano, Prior of the Convent of Santo Spirito, who will present the foundation of the new Study Center and the program for the 2025–2026 biennium;
- Francesco Salvestrini, professor at the University of Florence, who will outline the “Objectives and strategies of the new International Study Center Pope Leo XIV”.
One of the primary aims of the new Center is to offer every person—regardless of ethnic or religious background—a truthful perspective and an authentic judgment on contemporary life, grounded in the Gospel and in the Social Doctrine of the Church.
The intention is to form individuals for political life, fostering the desire for relationships and unity that defines the human person, and overcoming cultures of suspicion and fear.
Formation in social and political life will be offered through an interdisciplinary approach, including courses, seminars, and conferences, aimed in particular at:
- those who wish to acquire a political formation in order to serve, at various levels, in social life;
- those who have already begun philosophical and theological studies and wish to deepen their understanding of global cultural dynamics;
- lay people, deacons, priests, and members of religious life who seek to develop a critical perspective on international relations.
Rooted in the experience of the Order of Saint Augustine, the International Study Center Pope Leo XIV will collaborate with the Theological Faculty of Central Italy and remain open to dialogue with other Italian and international academic and cultural institutions that share its principles and aims.
With the establishment of this new Study Center, the Augustinian Community of Santo Spirito renews its commitment to promoting a culture of thought and integral formation, faithful to the tradition of research and spirituality that characterizes both the Order of Saint Augustine and the city of Florence.
