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INSeCT Board Members Meet with Pope Francis in Rome


Pope Francis engages in conversation with Maeve Heaney, the director of the Xavier Centre of Theology at the Australian Catholic University, representing the International Network of Societies for Catholic Theology.


Rome, Italy — The International Network of Societies for Catholic Theology (INSeCT) convened this week in Rome, culminating in a meeting with Pope Francis. The meeting served as preparatory groundwork for the General Assembly of INSeCT members scheduled for December in Rome, coinciding with a Convegno of the Dicastery for Culture and Education on The Future of Theology in the World and its Necessary Conversions.


The event brought together board members and representatives from various global regions and theological societies, who worked together on the gifts and the challenges of theological work in their respective regions, which they presented to Pope Francis. Pope Francis provided a speech, available on the Vatican's official website, outlining his views and suggestions on the future direction of Catholic theology.


It was the vision of a past president – our late and beloved Gerard Mannion – to raise the profile of INSeCT and Catholic Theology in Rome, its Dicasteries, and with the Pope. This was an important step forward in that direction. Not only was it a blessing to meet Pope Francis, who so values our work, but also to re-experience the beauty of colleagues and friends committed to theology across the world.

Associate Professor Maeve Louise Heaney VDMF,

Xavier chair for Theological Formation, ACU,

President, Australian Catholic Theological Association (ACTA),

Past President INSeCT


The meeting also garnered attention from Vatican News and other major news outlets, which highlighted Pope Francis's call for a "theology of love" and elaborated on his speech. Full details can be accessed through the links provided:



The INSeCT board will continue to work in preparation for the December General Assembly, where further discussions on global Catholic theology will take place. The list of INSeCT representatives at that meeting is as follows:


  • Associate Professor Maeve Louise Heaney VDMF, Xavier chair for Theological Formation, ACU, President, Australian Catholic Theological Association (ACTA), Past President INSeCT

  • Professor Ruben Mendoza: Chair of Department of Theology, Ateneo de Manila University, President INSeCT

  • Associate Professor Judith Gruber, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Vice President, INSeCT;

  • Professor Fr. Luiz Antônio Pinheiro, OSA,– Provincial of the Augustinians in Brasil. Professore di Storia del Cristianesimo at PUC (la Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais (PUC Minas) e la Facoltà di Filosofia e Teologia dei Gesuiti (FAJE), Belo Horizonte. Member SOTER.

  • Professor Martin M. Lintner, OSM: Incoming Dean, Philosophisch-Theologische Hochschule Brixen, Past President, INSeCT

  • Associate Professor Gunter Prüller-Jagenteufel, Faculty of Catholic Theology, University of Vienna; Past Board Member, INSeCT

  • Professor Nancy Pineda-Madrid, T. Marie Chilton Chair of Catholic Theology, Loyola Marymount University, President Elect, Catholic Theological Society of America (CTSA), Past Board Member, INSeCT

  • Sr. Maureen Daniella Anyanwu, IHM, Assistant Secretary of the Catholic Theological Association of Nigeria (CATHAN)

  • Professor Sr Shalini Mulackal PBVM, Vidyajyoti College of Theology, Delhi, Representative Ecclesia of Women in Asia (EWA)

  • Dr. Teresa Brown, Lecturer, Faculty of Theology and Philosophy, ACU, Secretary Australian Catholic Theological Association (ACTA)



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