Catholics and Public Life Congress to extol faith that unites Spain and the Americas

The Catholics and Public Life Congress will meet in Madrid, Spain, from Nov. 13–15 to discuss the faith-based connection between Spain and the Americas. This year's theme, "The Americas and Spain: The Faith That Unites Us – A Round-Trip Journey," focuses on the legacy of Hispanidad.

The congress will feature a joint statement called the "Manifesto for Hispanidad." The document highlights how the Spanish enterprise established municipalities, universities, parishes, and hospitals in the Americas. It also notes that the Catholic Monarchs, Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand, received their title from Pope Alexander VI through the papal bull Si Convenit.

The manifesto describes the historical emergence of the Laws of the Indies, which governed Spanish colonial territories, and the humanist thought of Francisco de Vitoria at the University of Salamanca. Organizers intend to recognize these historical foundations to serve future developments in the region.