Inaugural Conference · Pontifical University of St. Bonaventure (Seraphicum), Rome · September 9–10, 2026

This September, the Catholic Institute for Nonviolence and Pax Christi International will convene scholars, Church leaders, and nonviolence practitioners in Rome for the inaugural conference Unarmed and Disarming Peace: The Church’s Emerging Paradigm Shift to Gospel Nonviolence. Over two days, participants will advance theological, pastoral, and practical reflection on nonviolence as a central expression of the Gospel and of the Church’s mission in the world.

A decade in the making

The conference marks ten years since the landmark 2016 Nonviolence and Just Peace Conference, the gathering that launched Pax Christi’s Catholic Nonviolence Initiative. What began as a single meeting has grown into a decade of theological work, pastoral formation, and grassroots peacebuilding across the global Church. This September’s conference gathers that community again, not to look back, but to ask what the next ten years demand.

A new vision for our time

At the heart of the conference is a shift already underway in Catholic thought: moving beyond the assumption that violence can ever be a legitimate tool for resolving conflict, and instead embracing nonviolence as a constitutive dimension of Christian discipleship and ecclesial life.
Pope Leo XIV has described this shift in two words that give the conference its title: an “unarmed and disarming peace.” In his own words:

“More than a refinement of language, it invites a profound, nonviolent shift—dismantling the systems, fears, and narratives that make violence and war seem inevitable.”

What to expect

Across the two days, scholars, Church leaders, and nonviolence practitioners will come together for a program that moves between register: theological reflection on nonviolence as Gospel practice, pastoral conversation about what it asks of Church leadership, and practical exchange among those already building peace in their own communities. The conference is offered with interpretation in English, Spanish, French, and Italian, reflecting the international character of the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative.
The conference also serves as the culmination of Gospel Nonviolence in Action, a ten-day international training running September 2–11 at the Seraphicum and in Assisi. Training participants join the conference as part of their program, alongside those attending the conference on its own.

Practical information

  • Dates: September 9–10, 2026 (Wednesday and Thursday)
  • Location: Pontifical University of St. Bonaventure (Seraphicum), Via del Serafico 1, Rome
  • Who it’s for: Scholars, Church leaders, and nonviolence practitioners
  • Languages: Interpretation in English, Spanish, French, and Italian
  • Cost: €200, including lunch on both days
  • Lodging: Available at the Seraphicum, €50/night including breakfast

How to register

Registration is open now. To reserve a place, complete the online registration form or contact the organizing team at nonviolence@paxchristi.net.