Faith, Grassroots Leaders to Mobilize to End “Economy of Exclusion” as Part of Worldwide Grassroots Movement Called for by Pope Francis

WASHINGTON—A worldwide effort sponsored by the Vatican to energizeand empower grassroots leaders will convene in Modesto, Calif., February 16-19.Twenty U.S. bishops will join nearly 700 participants representing 12 countriesto examine and discuss collective responses to the issues of land, labor,lodging, racism and migration.

Celebrated as the first U.S. Regional World Meeting of PopularMovements (WMPM), the gathering is organized bythe Vatican's Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development (IHD), PICONational Network and the U.S. Conferenceof Catholic Bishops' Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), the U.S. bishops' national program working tobreak the cycle of poverty in the United States and educate on poverty and itscauses.

"Participants inthe World Meeting of Popular Movements represent a multitude of political perspectivesboth here in the United States and around the world," said Bishop David Talley of Alexandria,Louisiana, chairmanof the USCCB subcommittee on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. "We are here because, regardless of ourpolitical beliefs, we share a vision of a world in which the 'economies ofexclusion' have been ended, and a commitment to working together to achievethat goal."

Long in the planning, the Modesto meeting was organized as afollow-up to three larger international meetings held in Rome in Oct. 2014 andNov. 2016 and in Bolivia in July 2015.

"I join the Holy Father in inviting all 'to be protagonistsof change of their own situation' and share his hope that we are able to deepenthe well-springs of empathy in our society," said Cardinal Peter Turkson, prefect of IHD, who will deliver the keynoteaddress. "We are fortunate to have this opportunity to buildrelationships, develop our understanding of societal structures whichcontribute to the 'economy of exclusion,' and to deepen solidarity betweensocial justice movements in the United States and the Church."

Mediacredentials required for on-site coverage of the event. Non-credentialed media will not begiven access to the World Meeting of Popular Movements.

Persons not in Modesto can follow the convening online via livestream by visiting https://popularmovements.org/.

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Keywords: U.S.Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB, U.S. Regional World Meeting of PopularMovements, WMPM, Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development,IHD, PICO, Catholic Campaign for Human Development, CCHD, social justice, land,labor, lodging, racism, migration

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