Pope Leo XIV appointed four U.S.-based scholars and leaders as members of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development, according to a March 30 announcement by the Holy See.
The appointments are significant because they place American voices in a Vatican body that addresses issues such as human dignity, economic justice, migration, and humanitarian crises. The dicastery is responsible for helping guide the Catholic Church’s response to some of today’s most pressing global challenges.
The new appointees include Holy Cross Father Daniel Groody from the University of Notre Dame; Meghan J. Clark from St. John’s University in New York; Dylan Corbett from the Hope Border Institute in El Paso, Texas; and Léocadie Lushombo from Santa Clara University’s Jesuit School of Theology. Each brings experience working with vulnerable populations or advancing Catholic social teaching.
Father Groody said he was “truly honored and humbled by Pope Leo’s appointment.” He added: “My vocation is to serve, together with my colleagues at Notre Dame and around the world. The work of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development is vital to informing the Church’s response to the world’s most vulnerable people and the most pressing global challenges of our time.”
Corbett described himself as “humbled by this appointment,” saying: “The pope is very attentive to God’s work in border communities and with people who are migrating to bring about a more just and compassionate world. I’m honored to do what I can to bring this perspective to the critical work done by the dicastery, in service to the Holy Father and the global Church, to advance the social Gospel, so that all might have life, and have it abundantly.” Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso praised Corbett’s selection as recognition for his leadership at their border community.
Clark noted her previous collaboration with one section of this dicastery on migrants and refugees projects in 2022. She said she was “honored and humbled” by her new role: “As a moral theologian, I work on Catholic social teaching, seeking to examine intersections of human dignity, solidarity, and development…I am humbled to be alongside such esteemed colleagues — all deeply committed…with particular attention to dignity of marginalized-especially migrants-of common good, integral ecology.”
Lushombo also expressed gratitude: “The mission…is promote human dignity all individuals without exception…with particular attention weakest least excluded.” She continued: “That is why dignity matters justice matters why faith without justice makes no sense….recognizing this dignity imperative not only flourishing excluded but for human flourishing.” Lushombo previously worked with a study group analyzing Synod documents related care for creation.
