“Women: A Safe Haven for a Troubled Humanity”
23-26 October 2026
The World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations (WUCWO), in collaboration with Catholic Action Malta (Azzjoni Kattolika Maltija, AKM) and with the support of delegates from the Maltese Episcopal Conference, will hold the IV Meeting with Women of the Middle East and the Mediterranean, entitled “Women: A Safe Haven for a Troubled Humanity”. The event will take place in Malta from 23 to 26 October 2026.
For more than ten years, WUCWO has been pursuing a formation journey focused on fostering a culture of peace, particularly among Catholic women from the Middle East and the Mediterranean region. The first meeting was held in Amman in 2013, the second in Bari in 2016, and the third in Rafina, Greece, in 2022. Over the years, this formation process has continued through in-person gatherings, group meetings and workshops involving women from Albania, Egypt, Greece, the Holy Land, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Spain, Tunisia and Turkey. The fruits of this work have been shared widely across WUCWO’s global network, generating awareness, solidarity and concrete support.
In a context increasingly marked by migration and conflict, women in the Church are called more than ever to embody a culture of encounter. This fourth edition continues the journey already undertaken, enriched by the spirit of synodality.
It will provide a space for dialogue and growth, aimed at building bridges, creating opportunities for encounter, promoting reconciliation and solidarity, increasing public awareness, and fostering a “disarmed and disarming” peace.
“As women committed to peace, we are called to be safe havens for one another, to listen to each other, and to strengthen the bonds of solidarity across cultures. Peace begins with the relationships we nurture, creating spaces where every person is welcomed, heard, and treated with dignity. We recognise the remarkable commitment of women’s organisations in the Middle East, and we earnestly desire to support them and offer a space for dialogue, for sharing experiences and good practices, and for creating synergies.” Mónica Santamarina, WUCWO President General
“We are honoured that the WUCWO IV Meeting with Women of the Middle East and the Mediterranean is being held in Malta. Our country has historically been a strategic crossroads to the Mediterranean region and a key route linking different nations. Our Maltese language deeply reflects this movement of Mediterranean peoples throughout the ages. Called ‘to restore beauty to the face of a humanity marred by war’, as described by Pope Francis during his apostolic visit to Malta in 2022, we hope that this meeting shall be an opportunity of honest encounter and dialogue to embrace a future of peace. May we together make Pope Francis’ words in Malta ring true: ‘the presence of women is the true alternative to the baneful logic of power that leads to war.’” Marija Cachia, Maltese Catholic Action President General
The programme will feature three thematic panels bringing together women from the Middle East and the Mediterranean to share their experiences and reflect on the role of women as safe havens in their communities, the protection of human dignity in situations of conflict, and the contribution of women to peace and reconciliation.
A roundtable with experts will provide further perspectives on the challenges faced by women and communities in the region and how they might be addressed. These activities will take place in an atmosphere of deep spirituality and shared prayer and Eucharistic celebrations, strengthening the sense of communion and the vocational dimension of the participants’ commitment. There will also be opportunities for cultural exchange and the sharing of local initiatives.
The discussions will follow the “See, Judge, Act” approach, which encourages:
- Awareness of and insight into the realities experienced in different territories.
- Discernment in the light of the Word of God and the Magisterium of the Church.
- The sharing of good practices and experiences from local initiatives.
The initiative aims to strengthen solidarity among women from different countries and cultural contexts, encourage the exchange of experiences and good practices, and deepen mutual understanding of the challenges facing their communities. It also seeks to foster continued dialogue, reconciliation and collaboration, encouraging participants to carry this commitment forward in their own contexts and contribute to a culture of peace.
The gathering is expected to bring together around 90 participants from the following countries and regions:
Middle East and Maghreb: Egypt, the Holy Land, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia.
Europe: France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Other continents: Argentina, Australia, Cameroon, Canada, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Malawi, Mali, Mexico, Nigeria, the Philippines, Senegal, South Korea, Tanzania, Uganda, the United States and Venezuela.
“In a world marked by diversity, we promote a culture of inclusion and peace, where faith is a bridge of encounter between persons and peoples and where the richness of welcoming and valuing differences is recognised.” This is one of WUCWO’s main areas of action.
