Acton Europe

Just steps from the Vatican and walking distance from three of the four major pontifical universities, Istituto Acton is strategically positioned to forge relationships with present and future Catholic leaders from around the world as we help them connect good intentions to sound economics.

Over the years we have established close ties with high-ranking officials in the Secretariat for the Economy, the Secretariat of State, the Dicastery for Integral Human Development, the Dicastery for Catholic Education, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Pontifical Council for the Family, the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, and the Secretariat of Social Communications, and with every pontifical university. Most importantly, we enjoy a close collaboration with the rectors, deans, and senior faculty at all the major pontifical universities and seminaries. We continue to hone these connections while strengthening our relationships with international media outlets and relevant scholars in the U.S. and throughout Europe.

Istituto Acton regularly produces publications and books on Catholic Social Teaching, moral anthropology, and economic thought, which are then distributed to bishops, conference participants, and Acton alumni in diverse languages. We also have a robust program agenda attracting hundreds of future priests, bishops, cardinals, and lay theologians from around the world.

Though based in Rome, Istituto Acton reaches beyond to serve as a hub for a variety of European activities. While we’ve accomplished a lot, our plans are ambitious, and much remains to be done. It is time for Europe to return to its Judeo-Christian roots. What would happen if European leaders renewed their commitment to the principles of freedom based on a proper understanding of human dignity and liberty combined with a greater emphasis on moral values, personal responsibility, the spirit of entrepreneurship, and less state interference?

Objective

The Acton Institute is one of the few think tanks operating in Rome, and the only one combining free market economics and religious thought. Istituto Acton promotes our message of a free and virtuous society to a wide and influential audience, including the Catholic community in Italy and throughout Europe. In doing so, we also serve as a European hub for global leaders to engage a broader range of stakeholders on issues related to economics, politics, religion, and social policy.

Stats

20,000+

Number of participants (1,000 per year average)

350+

Number of conferences, seminars and symposiums held in Rome and Europe (since 2002)

120+

Number of countries represented/engaged

57,800,000

Number of Catholics engaged through our annual outreach to Catholic bishops

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Testimonials

“Acton Institute has taught me the importance of the free and virtuous society, and that to achieve it we need the economic freedom that permits the production of wealth. I learned that, in order to produce such wealth, developing countries need this freedom. This will also enable people in poorer countries to get the goods they need. Upon returning to Cameroon, through my work at Caritas in Obala, I have taught our people how to create wealth in order to move out of poverty. I am helping them to create and manage development projects which I learned to appreciate more through the Acton Institute.”

Fr. Nestor Ntiga Bissene (Cameroon): Doctoral Candidate in Development Economics, Pontifical Gregorian University. PhD in Economics and Statistics, University of Palermo. Acton Institute Calihan Rome Fellow; Acton University Alumnus.Diocesan Coordinator of Caritas (Obala): Professor of Economics at Superior Institute of Agronomic Science, Environment and Rural Entrepreneurship (Obala)

“It was especially important for me to have experienced the Acton Institute in Rome during my doctoral studies in theology. Thanks to Acton I learned, understood and studied key relationships: between the human person and society; between the human person and markets; and between the human person and freedom. I believe it is crucial that Acton continues to spread and advocate aspects of our Catholic-Christian social doctrine so as to achieve an authentic integral development of the human person.”

Fr. Alberto Marquez (Venezuela): Doctorate in Dogmatic Theology, Pontifical Lateran University. Acton Institute Calihan Rome FellowCurreRector of the Archdiocese of Valencia’s Nuestra Señora del Socorro Seminary.

“The Acton Institute has been decisive to my educational and professional trajectory. Without a doubt, my dedication to promoting human dignity and religious freedom has been forged by the formation I received through Acton programs. Over the years, I have worked in journalism, politics, non-profits, and healthcare all in an effort to humanize our society. In particular, I am focused on preventing euthanasia and encouraging hope, which I do through federal politics, medical associations, and journalistic work. The Acton Institute also introduced me to many exemplars who serve as endless inspiration for my own efforts and responsibility toward cultural renewal.”

Amanda Achtman (Canada): Pontifical Gregorian University, Licentiate in Judaic Studies & Jewish-Christian Relations. Acton University Alumna Communications & Cultural Engagement for Canadian Physicians for Life and Special Programs Advisor for The Hildebrand Project

“Acton Institute is primarily an organization of people who share values such as: human freedom and dignity, the virtuous life, the entrepreneurial free market, creative action, and the building of lively interpersonal relationships rooted in authentic Judeo-Christian values. The experience of the Acton Institute has helped me instill in my students a passion for learning and an understanding of the essence of Catholic social teaching. Moreover, as part of the KANA Centre, we have created educational and development projects that strengthen civic virtues and attitudes, such as strengthening community and children’s social commitments, and encouraging responsibility for our circumstances and contributing to building up a strong, sustainable, and civil society and economy.”

Fr. Lukasz Niepsuj (Poland): PhD in Moral Theology, specialization in Catholic Social Teaching, Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome. Acton Institute Calihan Rome Fellow; Acton University AlumnusProfessor of Ecclesiology and Catholic Social Teaching, Pontifical University of John Paul II in Krakow and at the Major Seminary in Tarnow. Postulator in the Canonization Process of Blessed Carolina Kózka. President of the Catholic Education Center KANA (Tarnów). Notary of the Diocesan Curia (Tarnow)

“After more than three years of collaboration with the Acton Institute, it is my duty to express my infinite gratitude for the ‘intellectual goods’ gained in my relationship with colleagues and fellow students. Having devoted my career to the intellectual life, the Acton Institute has enabled me to better articulate, within the wider context of liberalism, concepts related to freedom, religion, democracy, markets, and virtue. As my doctoral thesis concentrates on the democratization of Cameroon, the training I received was extremely useful. For all these reasons, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the Acton Institute.”

Fr. Serge Remy Ngaba Ebombo (Cameroon): PhD Candidate in Social Sciences, Pontifical Gregorian University. Acton Institute Calihan Rome Fellow; Bourse Jacques Maritain Rome Fellow; Acton University AlumnusServing as a priest in Milan Archdiocese and having recently concluded the role as book and essay editor and statical coordinator of Acton’s Rome francophone Working Group in Rule of Law and Entrepreneurship, he actively conducts doctoral research between France and Rome. He is a member of the American Political Science Association and a researcher at the Center for Applied Research in the Humanities and Social Sciences in Cameroon.

Recent Accomplishments

Publications
Istituto Acton regularly publishes monographs and trade-press publications in Italian and French on Catholic Social Teaching, moral anthropology, and economic thought, including translations of the “Christian Social Thought” series of booklets produced and sent annually to bishops and Acton alumni in diverse languages.
Events
Istituto Acton has a robust program agenda including a major annual conference for the pontifical universities (400+ attendees with standing room only), formation programs at international seminaries, and many collaborative ventures with like-minded religious and lay leaders inside the Roman Curia and throughout Europe. During the academic year, we also host a monthly discussion group for local students from the pontifical universities and seminaries. These events and conferences have attracted hundreds of current and future priests, bishops, cardinals, religious, and lay theologians, as well as pastoral and missionary leaders from around the world, especially Latin American, Africa, and East Asia.
Francophone Engagement
In addition to these Roman efforts, Istituto Acton also reaches the Francophone community representatives in Rome. We recently executed a six-part series of Francophone conferences with 160 priests, seminarians, and laity from Francophone Africa. This was a two-year project whose output included two books and dozens of academic articles published with prestigious academic partners in French. Additionally, we hosted seminars for 185 registered students at Rome’s Institut Francaise Centre Saint-Louis, a Catholic French Cultural Center founded by Jacques Maritain and owned by the Embassy of France to the Holy See. Seven key permanent delegations in Rome to the Holy See also participated. Forty-two students were awarded Bourse Maritain fellowships.

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Objective

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Testimonials

Recent Accomplishments

Acton Europe