The programme on the afternoon of Friday, 1 March at 4 p.m. will be devoted to interpreting affective changes in today's youth culture, with contributions from sociologists Mauro Magatti and Chiara Giaccardi, from the Sacred Heart Catholic University of Milan (Università Cattolica 'Sacro Cuore'). This will be followed by a round table discussion with the participation of Prof. Susy Zanardo, from the European University of Rome, Prof. Pier Cesare Rivoltella, from the Catholic University of Milan, and Prof. Philippe Bordeyne, Dean of the Pontifical Theological Institute 'John Paul II' for Marriage and Family Sciences.
The morning of Saturday 2 March will be devoted to a reflection on the anthropological and ethical criteria for interpreting the affective and sexual experience of young people. It will begin at 9:00 a.m. with a talk on the meaning of sexual difference by Prof. Maria Elena Canzi of the Catholic University of Milan. At 11:30 a.m., on the other hand, the theme of gender identity and sexual orientation will be addressed by the psychologist and UPS lecturer Fr Paolo Gambini, SDB.
In the afternoon (3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.) 'parallel study sessions' are scheduled, on specific topics such as: educational itineraries for a pastoral care that educates to love; the influence of the media on young people's sexuality; the questions posed by coexistence, the declinations of affective and sexual education in other cultures; the relationship between aesthetics of the body and identity; pornography; the Church and the accompaniment of LGBT people and the protection of the vulnerable.
Sunday 3 March will be devoted to the presentation of Educational Proposals that can Inspire the Activities of Christian Communities by Dr Alberto Pellai, doctor and psychotherapist. A specialization course that the University intends to launch to train educators qualified to work in this delicate form of accompaniment will also be presented.
The conference will end at the end of the morning with a Eucharistic celebration presided over by the Rector Major and the Chancellor of UPS, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime.
The General Councilor for Youth Ministry, Fr Miguel Angel García Morcuende, will also accompany the proceedings of the conference.
Registration is already open (now at discounted rates) at www.giovaniesessualita.unisal.it. The registration process also includes the choice of two in-depth topics from those scheduled for the afternoon of Saturday 2 March 2024.
