Mr. McCaffrey, culd you first give us an overview of the Faith & Philanthropy initiative and its objectives?
«Put simply, it is a unique convening of philanthropists with a faith background and a faith motivation to their giving, coming together from all different faith backgrounds, to explore the potential of collaborating together across faith lines for the good of humanity. An initiative of the Galileo Foundation, which supports the work of the Church in many different areas, the first Summit took place in October 2022 at the Vatican».
What were the main topics of the second summit, which took place from October 8 to 10 at Blenheim Palace?
«Primarily three topics: How Philanthropists can work together to build Peace in our world today, how they can help to protect the world’s Oceans and finally, how they can do more to nurture and protect the world’s Children».
How did the participants react to the topics and discussions? Were there any highlights?
«The spirit was one of positive and constructive dialogue, bearing in mind that this is a particularly challenging time to bring Muslims, Jews and Christians together to talk about these difficult concepts, especially Peace. I would say there were many highlights, moments one might describe as ‘epiphanies’ or breakthroughs, but the Summit operated under the Chatham House Rule and so unfortunately I’m not at liberty to share the details».
What role does the Faith & Philanthropy initiative play in the larger context of the Galileo Foundation?
«It is fair to say that this has become a major platform for us. When we began in 2017 we were very Catholic to the core, and although we still are, the example and inspiration of His Holiness Pope Francis has helped us to see the importance of this interfaith work. No single nation, religion or organization can solve these huge global issues on their own. It is only by collaborating and partnering together that we have a better chance to save the planet, protect the Oceans, rescue more women and girls from the scourge of traffcking and engender the seeds of Peace in the world».
Could you elaborate on the changes or progress you have seen in the Faith & Philanthropy area since the first summit?
«Definitely a confidence shared with our Muslim and Jewish partners that there is an appetite for this sort of gathering. There is a hunger to be together and recognize our common humanity, talking about the things we have in common as opposed to those that have the potential to divide us. I saw at first hand a great deal of God’s grace at work, and an openness among those present to embrace the goodness in the other person».
How important are networks and partnerships for the success of the initiative?
«We couldn’t make it happen without our faith partners, so I would say ‘very’. Their credibility helps with those guests who perhaps don’t know the background to the initiative or hadn’t heard of the first Summit in 2022 or the Galileo Foundation. Without them we would just be an echo chamber, but with their partnership we are an orchestra with many sections trying to play in harmony!».
Could you tell us more about the award that was presented at the summit? What are the criteria for the award?
«We established the ‘Prophets of Philanthropy’ Awards in 2022 to recognize outstanding individuals (and now organizations) who have trailblazed with their philanthropy, establishing important partnerships to make an impact in this world. In 2022 we honoured Jeff Bezos for his work with Chef Jose Andres, Ted Turner and his huge donation to the United Nations, and Irish philanthropist Denis O’Brien for tireless work in Haiti. This year we redressed the gender balance with three remarkable women who have been the voice for the voiceless, whether in the fight against AIDS in the case of Sharon Stone, human rights in the case of President Mary Robinson or equality in the case of Donatella Versace. Amazing strong women who have never been afraid to speak out. That has become more important than ever in our present world. And the fourth award was given to the Divan West-Eastern Orchestra and Maestro Daniel Barenboim. Tabare Perlas accepted that award and a quartet from the orchestra, made up of Jewish and Arab musicians, played Dvorak to conclude the Summit. It was very moving».
What does the award mean to the recipients and how do these individuals contribute to the foundation’s mission?
«They reflect our values, and the values of Pope Francis: inclusion, compassion, action. Giving a voice to those who are marginalized and often forgotten. I can’t answer for the recipients, but they told me they were very touched and honoured to receive the award, and from their social media posts, it seemed to be so».
Were there any special stories or experiences of award winners that you would like to share with us?
«We wanted to make it a surprise for President Robinson, so I asked her in the car on the way over to Blenheim for dinner if it would be OK to present the first award to her. She was taken by surprise but she was very happy! For me, Sharon Stone saying that she ‘had found [her] people’ was also a very special moment. It showed me that even in the short space of two days we had created something cohesive, something meaningful and hopefully to build upon going forward».
How can individuals or communities get involved in the Faith & Philanthropy initiative?
«We always need donors and supporters to help us stage something this ambitious, not to mention supporting our work, whether it is with the sisters of Talitha Kum in the fight against human trafficking, or to help stateless children around the world become documented for citizenship, or our work with the Holy See, supporting the Vatican Museums, the Vatican Library, and the Swiss Guards. Those who support Galileo help support all of these important initiatives».
To what extent is the foundation planning events or initiatives in this area in the future?
«We had a very successful series of events last year in Rome around the annual Swearing In ceremony of the Pontifical Swiss Guards. God willing, we will repeat that in 2025 and beyond. I can also reveal that we have begun work on the planning for the third ‘Faith and Philanthropy Summit’, which we hope will take place somewhere exciting in the spring of 2026. That is going to keep us very busy for the foreseeable future!».
Who is John McCaffrey
John McCaffrey (born Apr 1968) is a fundraising professional, born in Bel fast, Northern Ireland. In his career he has raised over $300 million at global institutions as diverse as Cambridge University, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Labour Party, where he was director of fun draising under Ed Miliband (and clea red the Party debt in two years). In February 2015 he was appointed as fundraiser to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in the Vatican, raising fun ds to enable the Academy’s work in the areas of modern slavery and child protection. In July 2016 he established the Galileo Foundation which sup ports not only the work of the Pontifi cal Academies but also the Holy See, including the Vatican Museums and the Pontifical Swiss Guard. Today the foundation works to encourage rela tions between faiths, inspired by Pope Francis.
