Diplomats and Church Leaders Unite for Social Action at Trinidad and Tobago Ambassador Prayer Breakfast

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago – In an unprecedented gathering of faith and diplomacy, The Samaritan Movement and the Archdiocese of Port of Spain hosted ambassadors from ten nations for a Prayer Breakfast focused on strengthening collaborative efforts to address pressing humanitarian challenges across the Caribbean and Latin America.

Historic Interfaith Diplomatic Gathering

The event, led by Fr Gerard McGlone, SJ, PhD, brought together diplomatic representatives from Germany, Cuba, Mexico, Panama, Canada, France, Venezuela, Nigeria, Korea and the Vatican at Archbishop’s House.

“This gathering represents a new model for how the Church can engage with the international diplomatic community,” said Fr McGlone during his opening remarks. The morning began with prayer and spiritual reflection before moving into substantive dialogue about global challenges affecting the region.

Shared Priorities Emerge

The structured discussion revealed four primary areas of convergence among the diplomatic missions: migration and refugee support, indigenous community development, family welfare initiatives and crime. The Venezuelan refugee crisis emerged as a particular focus, with multiple ambassadors expressing interest in expanding collaboration with Church-led relief efforts.

Germany’s representative emphasised the need for coordinated support for disadvantaged populations, while Mexico’s ambassador highlighted the need for working with organisations who are “on the ground” with migration issues. Cuba’s delegation noted their country’s strong existing relationship with the Catholic Church on social development initiatives.

Perhaps most significantly, Panama’s ambassador announced the development of a dedicated programme targeting indigenous communities, despite constitutional considerations around Church-State collaboration. “If you’re not spiritual, you’re not going anywhere,” the Panamanian representative observed, emphasising the spiritual foundation necessary for effective social action.

Practical Outcomes and Commitments

The breakfast session, which ran from 9:30 a.m. to nearly noon, generated concrete commitments for ongoing engagement. Mexico scheduled a dedicated follow-up meeting within one month to develop specific partnership frameworks around migration and indigenous rights. France proposed ground-level field visits to observe Church-led projects in action.

The ambassadors explored how decreasing global resources have affected their missions’ ability to respond to humanitarian needs, with several expressing interest in regular gatherings for support and practical coordination.

Looking Ahead

With strong enthusiasm demonstrated across all participating nations, the Prayer Breakfast established a sustainable framework for diplomatic-religious collaboration on humanitarian issues. The initiative’s success in bridging secular and religious approaches to social development offers a replicable model for other regions facing similar challenges.

The gathering concluded with expressions of gratitude and commitment to continued engagement, marking what participants hope will become a regular forum for addressing the hemisphere’s most pressing social challenges through combined diplomatic and spiritual resources.