Archbishop’s House,
Dublin
Dear Ms. XXX
Pope Francis and the World Meeting of Families
The Holy See’s (Vatican) World Meeting of Families (WMOF), the largest worldwide family conference, is held every three years. This summer, it will be hosted in Dublin, from 21 to 26 August. Pope Francis personally chose Ireland for the conference and will be travelling to Dublin to participate.
For the very first time, the World Meeting of Families will be followed by a new and extremely important Women’s Leadership Symposium, “Voices of Impact: Women Leaders Shaping Global Change” on the evening of 24 August and the morning of 25 August. We would be honoured if you would agree to join us on the stage to share your wisdom and experience. A Festival of Families Concert for the Pope will follow on the evening of 25 August in Croke Park featuring Irish and international music artists to include Sir James Galway, Andrea Bocelli and Riverdance. And Pope Francis will celebrate a Papal Mass in the Phoenix Park on August 26. You and your guests would be our honoured guests for both.
The Women’s Leadership Symposium will spotlight the role of women within the family alongside their role as change agents starting and running businesses, fighting poverty and human trafficking, providing health care and education for the poor and, for many, leading corporations, NGOs and countries. This discussion couldn’t be more timely or more important. Our goal is to bring strong women’s voices together for two dedicated inspiring sessions that spark legacy conversations going forward.
“Voices of Impact: Women Leaders Shaping Global Change” will begin at 18.00 on Friday 24 August with an invitation-only dinner and program. On Saturday 25 August, the Symposium will continue bringing together women change makers from across the globe from 8.00 to 11:00 at the RDS in Dublin. The Symposium is based on the simple yet powerful premise that the changing role of women across all spectrums of life is having a real and positive influence on the future of society. We will share real stories from women that powerfully connect with the audience and, via media, throughout the world. Our speakers will focus on the challenges women face serving their families, their careers andtheir communities; and the challenges women face while helping to build flourishing and sustainable societies.
We very much hope you can join us and have asked our strategic advisor, Susan Davis, to follow up with your office (202 414 0777 or susan.davis@susandavis.com). You may also contact her assistant, Sheridan Davis, at 202 414 0789, or sldavis@susandavis.com. Our World Meeting of Families Secretary General, Father Tim Bartlett, is available for discussion as well.
We would be honoured by your participation for this groundbreaking event, and look forward to your reply.
Archbishop Diarmuid `Martin,
Archbishop of Dublin.
Two Comments:
I think it is somewhat bizarre that a senior member of the Church, which has blocked equality for women for centuries, could write the sentence “the changing role of women across all spectrums of life is having a real and positive influence on the future of society” without recognizing the irony of it.
I am not sure how the presence of ‘women of impact’ as “honored guests” of the Archbishop at the Phoenix Park will appear to people like myself down in the crowd, not to mention all the ordinary women who will attend to honour Pope Francis, and join him in celebrating the Eucharist—the women who have been the backbone of the Catholic Church in our parishes.
