On April 20 and 21, 2026 (9:00 a.m., John Paul II Aula Magna), a conference will be held on the theme of governance in the Church—an especially timely reflection in light of recent ecclesial developments that have brought both longstanding and new questions regarding the exercise of authority and power back to the forefront.
The event aims to explore several fundamental issues: What does it mean to govern in the Church? What are the foundations of the exercise of ecclesial power? To what extent are models of governance offered by history, both within and outside the Church, effective or applicable in the context of contemporary challenges?
Particular attention will be given to the relationship between the universal and the particular dimensions of the Church, and to how different instances of governance can mutually enrich one another. From this perspective, the exercise of power in the particular Church requires constant evaluation so that governance is authentically oriented toward the service of the faithful.
In order to address these questions, the conference adopts an interdisciplinary approach, fostering dialogue among theology, canon and civil law, political science, and administrative studies, with the aim of providing analytical tools and criteria for discernment suited to the complexity of the topic.
The Conference, promoted by the School of Canon Law together with the Research Group Purpose and Models of Governance in the Church and the University of Navarra, is intended as a qualified forum for dialogue and in-depth reflection on a topic that is central to the life and mission of the Church in the present time.
The Conference is accredited by the Rome Bar Association and grants 16 continuing legal education credits for the full course.
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