On 19 May 2026, the Ambassador of Switzerland to the Holy See, Manuela Leimgruber, hosted an informal exchange followed by a dinner for the President General of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations (WUCWO), Mónica Santamarina. The aim of the gathering was to foster a dialogue meeting with several ambassadors accredited to the Holy See, other women leaders within diplomatic missions, and representatives of organisations such as Donne in Vaticano, a WUCWO member organisation, and The Lay Centre.
Also present at the meeting was Sister Nathalie Becquart, Under-Secretary of the General Secretariat of the Synod, with whom a rich exchange took place.
During the evening, Mónica Santamarina presented WUCWO’s mission, priorities and current work, highlighting the importance of its international presence and networking. She spoke about the World Women’s Observatory and its projects, as well as WUCWO’s School for Synodality. A question-and-answer session then followed, allowing for a deeper exploration of several topics.
The dialogue generated great interest among participants and helped to deepen possible areas of collaboration between WUCWO and the embassies and organisations present. For many of the ambassadors, including those of Portugal, Canada, Honduras, Lithuania, Chile and Albania, the meeting was also an opportunity to gain a closer understanding of WUCWO’s international work and to explore feasible ways of cooperation in favour of women, peace and development.
Overall, the meeting proved very positive, facilitating the establishment of new contacts and potential future collaborations, some of which have already begun.
The gathering highlighted the importance of strengthening ties with the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See and with like-minded organisations, fostering spaces for encounter that promote exchange, alliance-building, women’s leadership, and new opportunities for WUCWO’s mission.
We extend our gratitude to Ambassador Manuela Leimgruber for her outstanding hospitality and for organising such a meaningful and enriching encounter.
WUCWO Communication Office
