The International Study Conference 2025 in Sacrofano near Rome was a successful new start.
After an 8-year break due to the coronavirus pandemic, the IDZ International Study Conference took place in Sacrofano near Rome from 17-20 February 2025 under the title “Deacons: Joyful Witnesses of Hope”. The General Assembly also took place as part of the study conference, at which the IDZ Board and delegates were newly elected by e-voting.
At the Fraterna Domus conference and pilgrimage centre in Sacrofano near Rome, 140 deacons, their wives and interested people from 27 countries from all continents of the world gathered.
The IDC is important for the Church “because it is indispensable for it”, said Bishop Dr Klaus Krämer in his welcoming address at the opening of the study conference. On the very day of his episcopal ordination, he had promised to take over the patronage of the IDC, which was founded in 1965 immediately after the Second Vatican Council. According to Bishop Krämer, the IDC is a fruit of the Council and helps the Church to renew the permanent diaconate. The permanent diaconate is an essential dimension of the Church and the IDC is “the right arm and the honest mirror of a diaconal Church”. He criticised the fact that the permanent diaconate is still far from being accepted everywhere as an independent vocation and charism. Where it is lacking, concern for the poor and oppressed of all kinds (cf. GS 1) is not firmly anchored in the church’s ministries. Although the IDC is based in Rottenburg, it must always remain a global church institution. The diversity of people from the different regions of the church with their different histories, challenges and hopes, as well as their different theological approaches, is “the great treasure of the IDC”. “We can learn so much from the faith of people in other regions of the world, but also from their experiences and the ways they have found to bring the love of the Lord’s servant to people in need,” emphasised the bishop.
The main speakers were:
Cardinal Oswald Gracias from India, Archbishop Emeritus of Bombay,
Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu from Nigeria, Secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelisation in Rome
Dr Marie Maincent from France, representative of deacons’ wives on the IDZ board
Dr Caesar Zucconi from Italy, Secretary General of the Community of Sant’Egidio
The presentations are available on our YouTube channel. Links to the presentations are available on request.
In addition to the keynote speeches, there were also workshops in several languages to explore various topics of the diaconate in greater depth. Within the framework of synodal sessions modelled on the World Synod, the exchange of experiences between deacons and wives was intensified in small groups. Despite the packed programme, there was still time to get to know each other (better), pray and celebrate together in a relaxed atmosphere. The Fraterna Domus team contributed to the success of the conference with good food and extremely friendly service.
The international character of the IDC was also reflected in the elections to the Board of Directors, which took place during the study conference. Gerald Dupont from the USA was confirmed as President; Tony Hoban from Australia and Erik Thouet from the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart were elected Vice Presidents. The wives’ representative is Marie Maincent-Hanquez from France, and the Managing Director is Kilian Schadt, based in Rottenburg. The elected delegates come from Lithuania, Australia, India, South Africa, Colombia, Italy and Hong Kong. Deacons from Argentina and the United Kingdom were co-opted as delegates.
The closing Mass was celebrated by Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik, South Korea, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy in Rome. His dicastery invited all participants of the conference to an international meeting, which took place on 22 February in the Auditorium Conciliazione as part of the Jubilee of Deacons in the Holy Year.
To describe the successful course of the conference, one of the participants expressed his apt impression that “the IDC is experiencing a new springtime”.