PAX ROMANA MIIC / ICMICA

History

Pax Romana-ICMICA was founded in April 1947 at its first Plenary Assembly held in Rome, Italy. However its historical roots can be traced back to 1921 when Pax Romana was created as an international body of Catholic students with a secretariat in Fribourg, Switzerland. Since 1947 when the two movements, ICMICA and the International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS) were established, they have been operating independently through their respective international secretariats and regional structures while sharing the common name Pax Romana and sharing a common international representation at the United Nations and UNESCO. 

Since its beginning as a separate movement, ICMICA has developed in many ways into a truly international body and is now present in all continents with more than 50 member federations throughout the world. 

Identity 

Pax Romana-ICMICA is an international network and community of primarily Catholic professionals and intellectuals who are inspired by the life of Jesus Christ and who are called to fulfil their Christian vocation and mission through their various professions as well as in their intellectual commitments to society and the Church.

• Pax Romana-ICMICA is an international association of Catholic inter-disciplinary and inter-professional organisations, groups and individuals primarily engaged in dialogue between the Christian faith and cultures. 
• Pax Romana-ICMICA is a lay apostolate movement recognised as the International Catholic Organisation (ICO) by the Holy See. 
• Pax Romana-ICMICA is a non-partisan and non-profit organisation legally registered in Fribourg according to the Swiss Civil Code.
• Pax Romana is an international Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) which has Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic Social Council (ECOSOC), the United Nations Educational and Scientific Organisation (UNESCO) and the Council of Europe.

Mission and Objectives

Pax Romana-ICMICA aims, through its various professional and intellectual commitments in society and the Church, to engage in pro-active dialogue between the Christian faith and cultures in order to promote the evangelisation of cultures and the inculturation of the Gospel for the realisation of the Kingdom of God by -

• helping Christian professional and intellectual groups, communities and individuals, to fulfil their vocation and mission locally and globally,
• developing an international and intercultural forum and network where Christian professionals and intellectuals can share their faith experiences, 
• carrying out critical analysis and discernment of dominant thoughts, ideologies and cultures from a Christian perspective,
• engaging itself in the evangelisation work of the Church by bearing witness and practising Gospel values to promote a culture of life and peace in society,
• committing itself to the building of justice and peace, and the protection and promotion of human and people's rights in solidarity with the poor and with minorities, 
• promoting lay participation in the renewal and inculturation of the Church according to the spirit both of the Gospel and the Second Vatican Council, and
• facilitating ecumenical and inter-faith dialogue with people of other traditions and faiths for the promotion of mutual understanding, religious freedom and tolerance and for the service of humankind. 

Structure and Operation

The Plenary Assembly is the highest decision-making body of the Movement which appoints the office bearers and takes important decisions on statutory matters and policies. It usually takes place every four years, and consists of delegated representatives from the member federations.

The International Council is the decision-making body between Plenary Assemblies, which oversees the implementation of PA decisions and the work of the International Team. It usually meets every year and it consists of the president, vice-presidents and two representatives from each of the five continental regions. The vice-presidents and the International Council members are elected by the Plenary Assembly.

The International Team is the executive and coordinating body of the Movement which is responsible for the implementation of the decisions and takes care of the day-to-day work of the International Secretariat. International Team is composed of the President, Secretary General, Financial Vice-President and Chaplain. The International Team members are elected by the Plenary Assembly. 

The Regional Coordinators are responsible for coordinating activities in the continental regions. The Regional Coordinator attends the IC as Vice-President on behalf of the region. A Regional Coordination may function as a team with other sub-regional coordinator/s in the region. 

International Specialised Secretariats are the networks of the Christian professionals who work in the specific field or milieu and consist of people of the same or similar professions. At present Pax Romana-ICMICA has the following five Secretariats;

• International Secretariat for Christian Artists (SIAC)
• International Secretariat for Catholic Secondary Teachers (SIESC)
• International Secretariat for Catholic Jurists (SIJC/MIJC)
• International Secretariat for Scientific Questions (SIQS)
• International Secretariat for Catholic Engineers, Agronomists, and Industry Officials (SIIAEC)

Representation & Advocacy :Pax Romana-ICMICA, in collaboration with Pax Romana-IMCS, has permanent representatives at the United Nations in New York, Geneva and Vienna, at UNESCO in Paris, and at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. 

In addition, Pax Romana-ICMICA delegates its representatives to attend the Conference of International Catholic Organisations, other regional bodies, and various international meetings. 

The Pax Romana Working Groups are the task forces which assist the International Team in the implementation of decisions taken by the Plenary Assembly and the International Council in specific fields or issues. They are also focal points which coordinate various activities.

• Working Group on Human Rights
• Working Group on Ecology
• Working Group on Economy and Human Development

Publications 

Pax Romana-ICMICA regularly publishes the JubileE-News and a reflection journal called Convergence as well as periodic reports on various activities. There is also a Directory of the Movement which is updated every four years.