Catholic Sisters Step on to the Global Stage at G20 Interfaith Forum

From Local to Global: Catholic Sisters Shape Sustainable Development Agenda

In 2014, the G20 Interfaith Forum (IF20) was launched as an annual platform for faith-based leaders to engage with global agendas such as the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year, the IF20 filled a critical gap in their network: Catholic sisters. 

I was honored to be a member of the first-ever cohort of sisters to speak at IF20. As a program officer of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, I joined ten other Catholic sisters – many of them Hilton Foundation partners – in sharing our expertise on a range of human development issues.  

Catholic sisters are a worldwide force of over 600,000 women who form the backbone of the Church’s human development services to vulnerable people. Our inclusion as speakers on high-level panels at IF20 shows our growing leadership in advocating for sustainable development. 

Held in Cape Town, South Africa, from August 10–14, 2025, our cohort engaged with hundreds of other faith leaders about the unique role of Catholic sisters in advancing the SDGs. Fellow IF20 participants heard about our first-hand experience in addressing issues such as women’s empowerment, climate change, migrants and refugees, food insecurity, human trafficking and peacebuilding.  

On a panel about women and youth, I spoke about intentional investment in girls’ education, support for women entrepreneurs, and improved access to credit and property rights for women. Moderator Sister Francisca Ngozi Uti, winner of the 2024 Opus Prize, shared that true inclusion is only possible when we challenge and transform cultural, religious and social stereotypes that limit women’s full participation.  

At the plenary session, Sister Alessandra Smerilli, Secretary of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, inspired IF20 participants with the innovative Borgo Laudato Si’ project, in which migrants receive training in sustainable agriculture on the grounds of a papal villa. This integrated approach to address climate change and migration showcases the Church’s commitment to practical solutions and compassionate care for vulnerable people. 

The voices of Catholic sisters were loud and clear at IF20. We spoke with authority about sustainable human development on local, regional and international levels. Here are a few additional highlights: 

• Sister Enelless Chimbali of All Africa Conference Sister to Sister, promoted the role of women in peacebuilding, citing Somali women mediating hostage releases and Malian women countering gender-based violence. 

• Sister Juunza Mwangani of the Emerging Farmers Initiative, shared about improving food security through training women farmers at the household level, “where meals are shared, priorities are set, food security is felt, and human dignity is restored.” 

• Sister Hedwig Muse of the Association of Sisterhoods of Kenya spoke on interfaith collaboration to challenge government policies that suppress religious freedom. 

• Sister Kayula Lesa, director of anti-human trafficking network Talitha Kum Zambia, encouraged people of all faiths to “have a human-oriented and welcoming approach to migrants.”  

The G20 Interfaith Forum has supported faith leaders to influence global policy and practice for over a decade. This year, Catholic sisters made a significant contribution to the diversity and dynamism of this decision-making space.  I believe that our uniquely healing, human-centered approach can foster hope, dignity, peace, equity and justice across Africa and around the world.