Visit of the Hilton Foundation and audience with Pope Francis

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In late January, WUCWO was honoured to welcome the Hilton Foundation Board to our offices in Rome. During this meeting, Mónica Santamarina, President General, María Lía Zervino, Advisor to the Observatory, and Lia Beltrami, Producer and Director of In-Visibles, presented the results of the projects developed last year in collaboration with the World Women's Observatory (WWO) of WUCWO.

In this presentation, we had the valuable presence of Sister Michele and Sister Rosemary, who have actively collaborated with the Observatory, especially in the last year. Their participation reflects our strong commitment to join forces between religious sisters and lay women, working together for the same cause and reinforce the common mission of accompanying and strengthening women in vulnerable situations.

In addition, as part of their visit to Rome, the Hilton Foundation Board had the opportunity to meet with Pope Francis in a private audience, a significant moment in which Mónica Santamarina, President General of WUCWO, and Patricio Caruso, consultant of the WUCWO Observatory, were also present.

During his speech, the Holy Father stressed the importance of solidarity and support for the most vulnerable, reminding us that:

The service you freely offer in the fields of education, health, refugee assistance and the fight against poverty is a concrete testimony of love and compassion. Do not forget this word: compassion, “to suffer with”. God is compassionate; he draws close and suffers with us. Compassion is not throwing money into the hands of another without looking them in the eyes. No. Compassion is drawing close and “suffering with”. Do not forget the word: compassion..

Since 2021, the Hilton Foundation has partnered with WUCWO through the World Women´s Observatory, supporting projects in Africa and Latin America aimed at women who are in a vulnerable situation. Thanks to this partnership, many women have been able to access training and opportunities for human and social development, transforming their lives.

For WUCWO, this visit was a special opportunity to share the impact of the work done and to continue strengthening alliances that promote the dignity and strengthening of women in the world, as well as the union between religious and lay women to continue working with the same goal of building a more just world.