Speaker: Archbishop Nicolas Girasoli, Apostolic Nuncio to Zambia and Malawi.

The Gannon Lecture Series

The Gannon Lecture Series, which began in the fall of 1980, brings distinguished individuals to Fordham to deliver public lectures on topics of their expertise. Fordham alumni endowed the series to honor the Reverend Robert I. Gannon, S.J., president of Fordham University from 1936 to 1949, who was an outstanding and popular speaker.

Archbishop Nicolas Girasoli
Apostolic Nuncio to Zambia and Malawi

Born in Ruvo di Puglia, Italy, Archbishop Nicolas Girasoli studied philosophy and theology at the Pontificio Seminario Regionale of Molfetta before being ordained a priest in 1980 by His Holiness Pope John Paul II, in Rome.

He earned a master’s degree in moral theology and a doctoral degree in canon law in 1981 and 1985, respectively. He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1985, and has since served in many locations around the world, including Indonesia, Australia, Hungary, Belgium, the United States and Argentina.

Archbishop Girasoli has published several studies on minority rights, including National Minorities: Who Are They? (Budapest, 1995) and Compromise and Minority Rights (Budapest, 1996). He taught at the University of Ghent, in Belgium, for four years, from 1995 to 1999, during which time he was also the adviser to the high commissioner for ethnic minorities of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. He also served as dean of the master on minority rights in Budapest from 1999 to 2000, collaborating with several European universities.

In March 2006, Girasoli received the episcopal consecration in the Cathedral of Ruvo di Puglia. Earlier this year, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Titular Archbishop of Egnazia Appula and Apostolic Nuncio to Zambia and Malawi.

Minority Rights and Globalization: A Compromise Approach

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights clearly states that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act toward one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

At the same time, equality is also the right to have one’s difference recognized and supported in the public and private sphere. In addition to equal protection under the law, minorities also want to preserve their language, culture, religion and traditions.

Today, though, minorities are finding it increasingly more difficult to do so, as globalization has given rise to a new era of mistrust and misunderstanding between cultures and ethnic groups. An international endeavor to build understanding between individuals and groups can only succeed if it relies on discernment and empathy for every individual, with an eye toward protecting the longstanding cultural traditions of the majority and minority alike.

A reception immediately follows the lecture. 

Please RSVP to jmlogan@fordham.edu if you would like to attend.