College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences > Centers & Institutes > Center for World Catholicism & Intercultural Theology > World Catholicism Week > 2026 Schedule

2026 Schedule

​​​​​​​2026 Schedule

The schedule will follow Central Daylight Time (CDT), which corresponds to UTC-5, Coordinated Universal Time. 

This is a hybrid conference, held in person at DePaul University's Lincoln Park Campus in Chicago and also livestreamed. Closer to the dates of the conference, the livestream URL will be e-mailed to everyone who registers.

Location of Conference Sessions

DePaul Student Center, Rm. 314AB (building map of 3rd floor)
2250 N. Sheffield Ave. (street map)
Chicago, IL 60614 


:: Schedule ::

11:00am-12:30pm Undergraduate Student Research Poster Presentations

12:30-2:00pm Break for lunch

2:00-4:00pm OPENING PANEL—Pope Leo and a Global Gift Exchange

  • Afe Adogame (Princeton Theological Seminary)
  • Emilce Cuda (Pontifical Commission for Latin America)
  • Christopher White (Georgetown University's Initiative on Catholic Social Thought & Public Life)

Moderator: Stan Chu Ilo (CWCIT Research Professor & Catholic Studies Professor—DePaul University)

4:00-4:30pm Break
4:30-6:00pm KEYNOTE ADDRESS

Greg Grandin 
Peter V. and C. Vann Woodward Professor of HistoryYale University
Author of America, América: A New History of the New World


Moderator: TBD

6:00-6:30pm Reception with live music

9:00-10:00am Continental breakfast; all are welcome

10:00am-12:00pm PANEL—The Biography of Leo XIV

  • Carmen M. Nanko-Fernández (Catholic Theological Union)
  • César Piscoya (CELAM, the Latin American & Caribbean Bishops' Council)
  • Shannen Dee Williams (University of Dayton)

Moderator: TBD

12:00-1:30pm Break for lunch 

1:30-3:30pm PANEL—Pope Leo and Catholic Social Teaching

  • Michael J. Baxter (University of Notre Dame)
  • Steven P. Millies (Catholic Theological Union)
  • Toussaint Kafarhire Murhula, SJ (Arrupe Center for Research & Formation)

Moderator: TBD

3:30-4:00pm Break

4:00-6:00pm

PANEL—Pope Leo's Agenda

  • Daniel P. Castillo (Loyola University Marymount)
  • Philip Larrey, SJ (Boston College)
  • Paola Ugaz (Nativa TV; coauthor of Mitad Monjes, Mitad Soldados)

Moderator: TBD