October 1, 2025
2:00 to 3:15 p.m. (ET)
Presentation
This presentation explores how values-driven organizations serve as a model for the faithful administration of Church goods. It highlights the importance of aligning organizational values with stewardship principles, fostering transparency, accountability, and community involvement. By drawing lessons from successful organizations guided by strong ethical and moral foundations, the talk aims to provide both pastoral and practical insights and inspiration for church leaders and administrators. Ultimately, the goal is to promote a stewardship approach rooted in faith, hope, and service—ensuring the responsible management of resources for the common good of the Church community.
Prof. Sr. Alessandra Smerilli, F.M.A.
Prof. Sr. Alessandra Smerilli, F.M.A. was born in Vasto (Ch) on 14 November 1974, and became a Daughter of Mary Help of Christians in 1997 after a period of theological formation at the Pontifical Lateran University. She graduated in Economics from Roma Tre University in 2001, and obtained a PhD in Political Economy from La Sapienza University of Rome (2006) and a PhD in Economics from East Anglia University (Norwich, UK 2014). In 2016, she carried out research activities at the University of Pennsylvania. Her research interests are related to economic theories of cooperation and value-based organisations. She has authored several publications on these topics.
She is full professor of Political Economy at the Auxilium Faculty of Education. She has taught Economics of Cooperation at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart (Milan) and the LUMSA University (Rome), Economics, Ethics and Finance at the Pontifical Salesian University (Rome) and International Economics at the Pontifical Lateran University.
From 2006 to 2021, she worked with the Italian Episcopal Conference for the Social Weeks of Catholics. In 2018, she participated as an auditor at the Synod on “Youth, faith, vocational discernment”. From 2019 to 2024, she was a Counsellor of Vatican City State.
Since April 2020 she worked with the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development as Coordinator of the Task Force Economy in the Vatican Covid-19 Commission and since March 2021 she has held the position of Undersecretary at the same Dicastery. On 26 August 2021, the Holy Father appointed her as interim Secretary of the Dicastery and Delegate for the Vatican Covid-19 Commission, confirming her in this role on 23 December 2021. On 23 April 2022, the Holy Father appointed her as Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
In September 2023 she was appointed as a Board of Directors Member of the Laudato Si’ Center for Higher Education. On 11 February 2025 Pope Francis established the Commission for Donations to the Holy See (Commissio de Donationibus pro Sancta Sede ), and appointed Sr. Alessandra Smerilli as a member of the Commission.
