I knew I was in for a privileged and inspiring few days at the 2025 international safeguarding conference in June, when I listened to Sr Simona Brambilla’s opening address. It spoke directly to my heart about how women weave bodies, thoughts, hopes, bonds, bridges, safe spaces and shelter. She also drew on the stories of Elizabeth and Mary and of Naomi and Ruth. Her words were poetic, wonderful to listen to and it is reassuring to know she is in the Vatican as the Prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Apostolic Life.

I was not only impressed by the wonderful Women of Faith and Women of Strength who were presenting at the conference. I was also impressed by the delegates I met during the breaks. On the first evening I sat in a bar with a theologian and canon lawyer.

The theologian told the story of personally sharing her work with Pope Francis, who gave her and her work his blessing. The canon lawyer spoke of her work in safeguarding within the Dicastery of the Doctrine of Faith and her hope in Pope Leo. It fills my heart with hope and joy knowing these women are there working with the men at the heart of the church.

A bishop was also sitting with us and spoke about how much he was learning at the conference. I was encouraged by his presence and hoped he would appreciate how essential it is and that we all work together at our different levels, bringing our different perspectives to the table. He was also in my working group, and we were all touched when he described the shame he felt after hearing stories of women hurt at the hands of priests.

Gemma Lamarra is a retired teacher.

Photograph used with the kind permission of IADC – ISC, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome