Catholics and Public Life Congress to extol faith that unites Spain and the Americas

The Catholics and Public Life Congress will meet in Madrid, Spain, from Nov. 13–15 to discuss the faith-based connection between Spain and the Americas. This year's theme, "The Americas and Spain: The Faith That Unites Us – A Round-Trip Journey," focuses on the legacy of Hispanidad.

The congress will feature a joint statement called the Manifesto for Hispanidad. The text describes the civilization started by Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand, who received the title of Catholic Monarchs from Pope Alexander VI. The manifesto highlights how this era established municipalities, universities, parishes, and hospitals that the text claims no international treaty has replicated.

The document also points to the Laws of the Indies, which regulated Spanish territories in the Americas, and the humanist teachings of Francisco de Vitoria at the University of Salamanca. According to the manifesto, these historical developments helped form the foundations of international law and human rights.