Trying to sum up the experience of being part of the International Association of Jesuit Universities (IAJU) Global Citizenship Fellows Program and the 2025-2026 cohort is a difficult task, since it means summing up the privilege and pleasure of walking down the streets of one of the most ancient cities in the world, with people from all around it, having meaningful conversations during delicious dinners, eye-opening workshops in a quiet location, and visits to some of the places where Jesuit values are applied in real life settings. However, these words are an attempt at sharing such a wonderful experience and the lessons learned.
During the first week of June, our cohort delved into the growth zone, expanding our listening and dialogue skills through meaningful reflections derived from following dialogical meaning, demonstrating understanding, and practicing Ignatian discernment exercises. Speaking for myself, the former experiences led to an insight into my individuality, but also into our shared humanity, which unites us, even if we come from completely different backgrounds and live worlds apart. It was as if Pope Francis’ encyclical Frattelli Tutti came to life in front of our eyes.
The mentioned workshops were particularly relevant in helping us “go toward the heat,” quoting Berkley Center Director of Student Programs and workshop leader Nick Scrimenti, and naming what differentiates us boldly, safely, and, in consequence, without fear, so that we are able to understand, allow the other to be heard and understood, and to find clarity in dialogue.
This was possible, in part, due to the virtual workshops we had already taken part in, particularly the In Your Shoes™ exercises developed by the Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics at Georgetown University, which allowed for us to understand that we were looking for deep comprehension of global issues and differences through dialogue. We were able to see the other in the spirit of cura personalis and got to know them by pointing out what was particularly important for them.
Nevertheless, the former couldn’t have been possible without getting to see how inspiring people are working their way through global issues in real life settings, like the people we met in the Jesuit Curia, who ask themselves and asked us how we implement Jesuit values in our communities, and how they can impact learning environments. Similarly, the Jesuit Refugee Center does their best to help out some of the most endangered populations in the world with compassion and love.
Dinner was also a special moment during these days, since it was the moment in which we were able to come together as a group, share our thoughts and experiences about what had happened during the day, and enjoy Roman cuisine in a moment that felt synodal, in the sense that we were walking together towards our understanding and comprehension of the experience. As I headed back home on the plane, I thanked everyone involved in the planning and execution of this week and thought about my responsibility after being a part of such an experience. I come back to Colombia with the mission to listen with an open heart and mind to those who think differently and to share the skills I acquired in the polarized setting I inhabit to help, even if it’s through small actions, like cooling down the debate and pointing out where we actually disagree, and work our way through our common challenges. In the end, the magnificence of humanity resides in both diversity and commonality, and having the tools to name them both helps draw the map towards the light in these times of division, when we most need to remember how to walk together.
