Unite to Prevent

The Fifth International Conference with the Cura Foundation took place May 6-8, 2021. The conference united the leading physicians, scientists, leaders of faith, ethicists, patient advocates, policymakers, philanthropists and influencers to discuss the latest breakthroughs in medicine, healthcare delivery and prevention, as well as the anthropological significance and the cultural impact of technological advances.

The three-day conference was originally scheduled to take place at the New Synod Hall in the Vatican City, but was instead presented in dynamic, short-segment programs online. This event was the fifth in a series over the past decade aimed at exploring and enhancing cross-disciplinary collaborations to advance human health.  

Moderated by experienced journalists, the conference gathered together a formidable group of speakers across all disciplines in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic to share their insights about health, humanity and the future of medicine.

Conference organizers also spotlighted the conversation series on “Bridging Science and Faith” to explore the commonalities between religion and spirituality and health and wellbeing, as well as examine the relationship between the mind, body and soul.

The discussion delved into the anthropological and cultural dimensions of being human and looked for areas of convergence between the humanities and the natural sciences. Discussions were held around the importance of empathy and compassion, ethical implications of advances in technology, including artificial intelligence, and the impact of innovation on anthropology.

This important conversation was made possible through the generous support of a grant from the John Templeton Foundation.

Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi opened the conference with a short reflection on The Body, The Soul and The Mind.

Conference topics addressed innovation in healthcare and how to make quality healthcare available and affordable, how to improve human health by addressing the mind, body and soul and how together with empathy and compassion we can make the world a better place, about the environment and our neighbor and how to stay connected.

The conference closed with a message for the participants from Pope Francis. Complete conference details including the full list of speakers, topics, media moderators and supporters are available on the conference website.

Please visit: VaticanConference2021.org, and see on Twitter @CuraFdn, on facebook.com/TheCuraFoundation and join the conversation with #UnitetoCure.