Paulo Neves, President of the Institute for the Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (IPDAL), took part in a high-level meeting promoted by the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI), the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and the Dicastery for Culture and Education, which brought together ministers and senior education authorities from across Ibero-America for an audience with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican.

The meeting was attended by ministers, secretaries of state and representatives of international organizations, who discussed issues such as the mental health of younger generations, the growing impact of digital technologies on learning, and the need to develop educational responses capable of keeping pace with ongoing social and technological transformations.

The audience with Pope Leo XIV was one of the central moments of the meeting, reinforcing the importance of education as a tool for human development, social inclusion and the strengthening of democratic societies. Participants highlighted the need to foster closer cooperation among Ibero-American countries in order to address challenges that transcend national borders and require joint approaches.

Paulo Neves’ participation in this international forum reflects IPDAL’s commitment to promoting political and institutional dialogue between Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. Over recent years, the Institute has played a significant role in bringing together policymakers, international organizations and civil society representatives, contributing to the deepening of relations between both sides of the Atlantic.

In a context marked by rapid technological developments and growing debate surrounding the well-being of younger populations, participants advocated the creation of cooperation mechanisms that enable the sharing of best practices, the development of innovative public policies and the strengthening of educational systems’ capacity to meet the demands of the 21st century.

The meeting also helped consolidate the commitment of the participating countries to an integrated vision of education, capable of combining knowledge, innovation, human development and social responsibility, in a joint effort to build more resilient, inclusive and future-ready societies.

IPDAL extends its special thanks to Mariano Jabonero, Secretary-General of the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI), and Ana Paula Laborinho, Director of Multilingualism at the OEI, for their decisive contribution to making this meeting possible.