The Paulist Fathers, through the Paulist initiative on Polarization, convened their first Summit on Polarization in Las Vegas, Nevada, from April 19 to 21, 2024. The theme of the summit was Bridging the Divide, Seeking Reconciliation. The Paulist Fathers invited 100 Catholic leaders, academics, media experts, and Paulist community representatives to attend. Among the invited attendees was Claudia Avila Cosnahan, Commonweal’s Director of Mission and Partnerships.

The summit organizers stated that “in order to effectively address polarization,” the initiative needed to facilitate a space that would allow for the formation of alliances across institutions and ideological boundaries. They would also need to sustain these alliances beyond the gathering. The summit focused on five areas: the landscape of polarization, the importance of conversation and dialogue, the Catholic tradition and spirituality of reconciliation, best practices for pastoral work, and the need to develop resources and tools for faith communities.