Vatican City: Women from different parts of the world gathered in Rome on March 9 for a special event aimed at encouraging young women to take leadership roles in the Church and in society. The programme titled Women of faith student leaders of tomorrow was organised jointly by the British Embassy and the Australian Embassy to the Holy See.
The event took place shortly after the celebration of International Women’s Day and brought together fifteen women from thirteen countries. Most of them are students or young professionals studying or working with universities and organisations based in Rome.
During the daylong meeting, participants shared ideas on how faith, values and public engagement can help create positive change in the world. Discussions focused on important issues such as peace building, reducing poverty, improving education and responding to climate change.
The gathering began with remarks from several diplomats including the Canadian Ambassador to the Holy See Joyce Napier, the Australian Ambassador Keith Pitt and the British Ambassador Christopher Trott. Their reflections highlighted the role of women in leadership and public service.
Daniela Niño Giraldo from Colombia said she was deeply inspired by the example of Ambassador Napier. As a recently married woman who is expecting her first child, Giraldo said the ambassador’s example showed that women do not have to choose between family life and professional responsibilities.
She explained that women often feel they must choose one path over another, but seeing women who successfully balance work, family and faith can give encouragement to others who hope to serve the Church and society.
Participants also reflected on the challenges many women still face around the world. Mary Wangithi Mugo from Kenya emphasised that while women’s achievements are being celebrated, there are still many whose voices are silenced because of abuse and exploitation.
Mugo works closely with survivors of human trafficking and is a youth ambassador for Talitha Kum, an international Catholic network that fights human trafficking. She also founded an organisation called Sema Nami, which focuses on raising awareness and supporting victims.
According to Mugo, women play a unique and important role in helping survivors because they can understand many of the struggles faced by other women. While priests often provide spiritual support, women can offer an additional level of understanding and empathy.
The event also highlighted the contributions of lay women who serve the Church in different professional roles such as diplomacy, journalism and communications. For many of the participants, seeing women actively involved in these areas brought hope and encouragement.
Giraldo said the meeting helped her realise that even as a lay woman studying in Rome, she can still find meaningful ways to serve the Church. Seeing other women in leadership positions helped her feel confident about her own future.
Both Giraldo and Mugo said the event helped build a new network of support among women who share similar hopes and challenges. They stressed that women need spaces where they can meet, exchange ideas and support each other.
The participants concluded that working together and encouraging one another will help women continue to grow as leaders in the Church and contribute to addressing important global issues.