The Transformative Power of Vulnerability: Insights from the SACRU Research Seminar
Embracing vulnerability as a source of strength and responsibility was the central theme of a recent research seminar hosted by SACRU – The Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities. Held in conjunction with the Jubilee of the Sick and the World of Healthcare, the event shed light on the ethical and social dimensions of human fragility.
Young scholars from around the world gathered at the Australian Catholic University’s Rome campus to share their interdisciplinary research on vulnerability. From genetic testing to end-of-life care, the studies presented at the seminar highlighted the transformative potential of embracing vulnerability as an integral part of the human experience.
Redefining Vulnerability Post-Pandemic
David Kirchhoffer, Director of the Queensland Bioethics Centre and Chair of SACRU’s Working Group on Vulnerability, emphasized the need to reframe the concept of vulnerability in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. He underscored the importance of placing vulnerability at the center of research conducted by Catholic universities and praised the collaborative efforts of doctoral students in this area.
Attendees at the seminar included institutional leaders, healthcare professionals, and the Australian Ambassador to the Holy See, Keith Pitt. Virginia Bourke, Pro-Chancellor of the Australian Catholic University, highlighted the urgent need for ethical clarity in today’s healthcare landscape and applauded the SACRU initiative for providing a coherent ethical framework for the sector.
A Global Dialogue on Vulnerability
The roundtable discussion featured voices from seven countries and diverse academic disciplines, all united by a shared vision of care that embraces vulnerability as a space for mutual growth. Participants reflected on vulnerability not as a weakness to be overcome, but as a common ground where ethics, science, and human dignity intersect.
Simona Beretta, professor of Economic Policy at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, underscored the theological and civic resonance of reimagining vulnerability as a responsibility toward others. This perspective aligns with the principles of good coexistence found in Pope Francis’s encyclical Fratelli Tutti.
In his closing remarks, Fr. James Keenan, SJ, Vice Provost for Global Engagement at Boston College, emphasized the ethical power of vulnerability in healthcare. He highlighted the importance of healthcare professionals allowing themselves to be vulnerable to those they serve, fostering a fundamental openness that drives ethical engagement.
Pier Sandro Cocconcelli, SACRU’s Secretary General, reaffirmed the alliance’s commitment to fostering dialogue and ethical leadership through academic collaboration. In a time of deep inequalities and growing mistrust in science, academic research can once again prioritize human dignity and contribute to the common good.
