His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, will formally launch “Within Your Gates: The Forum for the Universal Vocation of Jerusalem” on September 7, 2026, according to announcements from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and Notre Dame Jerusalem. Developed in partnership with the University of Notre Dame’s academic center in the city, the interdisciplinary research initiative brings together scholars and practitioners from different faith traditions to examine Jerusalem’s universal mission and daily realities.
Partnership and Development History
The Forum grows out of more than three years of close cooperation between Cardinal Pizzaballa and colleagues from the University of Notre Dame, according to university announcements. Key figures in developing the initiative include Daniel Schwake, Ph.D., director of Notre Dame Jerusalem; Asher Kaufman, director of the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies; and Clemens Sedmak, director of the Nanovic Institute for European Studies. Cardinal Pizzaballa will chair the Forum’s Board of Promoters, guiding the initiative from its September 7, 2026, launch event at the university’s Tantur campus.
“The mission of earthly Jerusalem is to become the image and mirror of heavenly Jerusalem, a prophecy and promise of that universal reconciliation and peace which God desires for the whole human family,” Cardinal Pizzaballa stated, as reported by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and Notre Dame Jerusalem. “It is to this mission that we must return.”
Research Themes and Objectives
According to project documentation released by the organizers, the Forum will produce applied interdisciplinary research rooted in Jerusalem’s particular circumstances and oriented toward daily life. Research themes will explore:
- The theological significance of Jerusalem
- The city’s universal vocation across diverse faith traditions
- The language of conflict and reconciliation
- Agency under conditions of constraint
Organizers emphasize that Jerusalem’s complexity serves as the foundation for the project. According to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, participating scholars and practitioners share the conviction that the city’s multifaceted identity acts as an inspiration to humankind rather than an obstacle.
“This Forum creates a space for us to discern Jerusalem’s unique vocation of bringing together peoples of many faiths to build bridges and to receive God’s call to be peacemakers,” stated Rev. Gregory P. Haake, C.S.C., vice president for mission engagement and church affairs at Notre Dame, as cited by Notre Dame Jerusalem.
Launch Event Details
The September 7, 2026, launch event at the Tantur campus will feature keynote remarks from Cardinal Pizzaballa alongside presentations from scholars and practitioners serving on the Board of Promoters and the Advisory Committee. Additional information regarding the initiative is hosted at www.withinyourgates.org, with event inquiries directed to the organizing team at the University of Notre Dame’s Jerusalem academic center.
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