A new chapter of an educational movement initiated by Pope Francis will be opening in Washington, D.C., and the pope himself will participate in its kickoff this week.
Francis will participate in a live videoconference on Thursday, May 20, to announce the launch of a new Scholas Occurrentes chapter in the nation’s capital.
Cardinal Wilton Gregory, archbishop of Washington, will be on the U.S. side of the videoconference, along with young adults, faculty and guests at Archbishop Carroll High School, near the Catholic University of America in Washington.
Scholas Occurentes is an international organization that seeks to “answer the call to create a culture of encounter and bring young people together in an education that generates meaning,” according to its website. It is present in 190 countries, reaching more than a million children.
During the videoconference, Francis will address other communities that are also inaugurating new chapters or programs, including Valencia, Spain; Caco, Argentina, and Sydney, Australia.
Cardinal Gregory and two young adults will speak during the videoconference, and Pope Francis will bless a plaque for the new D.C. center. There will also be dialogue among representatives of Scholas Occurrentes from other parts of the world. The event will be conducted in Spanish, with simultaneous English translation.
The two-hour event is scheduled to begin at 10am EDT. Though it is closed to the public, it can be followed live via Vatican Media Live.
