Friday, June 12, 2026.

LUSAKA, ZAMBIA - The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR), in collaboration with the Social Apostolate Commission and the Intellectual Apostolate Commission, invites participants to a virtual conversation on Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas. The event will bring together leading Jesuit scholars and practitioners to reflect on the encyclical’s theological, ethical, social and developmental implications for contemporary society.

In a world marked by deep social inequalities, ecological strain, governance challenges and rapid technological change, Magnifica Humanitas offers a renewed invitation to reflect on the dignity of the human person and the moral foundations of social life. This conversation seeks to unpack these themes and explore their relevance for Church, policy and public life.

The session will be moderated by Rev. Fr. Mark Ngwenya, SJ, Doctor of Sacred Theology, whose work in theological formation and intellectual engagement has contributed significantly to Jesuit academic discourse in the region.

Featured Speakers:

Rev. Fr. Wilfred Sumani, SLD, MBA
Director of Academics & Quality Assurance at The Catholic University of Malawi and Coordinator of the Intellectual Apostolate in the Jesuit Province of Southern Africa. He holds a Doctorate in Sacred Liturgy and brings deep expertise in theology, education and ecclesial formation.

Grant Tungay, SJ
Director of the Jesuit Institute South Africa (JISA). He is an admitted attorney with a Master’s degree in Human Rights Law and an STL in Systematic Theology. His work integrates legal analysis, human rights advocacy and theological reflection.

Dr. Daniel Mwamba Mutale, SJ
Executive Director of the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR). He holds a PhD in Economics and is widely engaged in issues of social justice, public policy, governance and development.

The conversation will provide an interdisciplinary reading of Magnifica Humanitas, drawing insights from theology, economics and law to deepen understanding of human dignity and the common good.

The event will be held virtually via Zoom and is open to scholars, students, clergy, civil society actors, policymakers and members of the public interested in contemporary Catholic social teaching and its application in today’s world.

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