Kerry Halferty Hardy

Strategic advisor, lecturer, and board member particularly focused on the healthcare sector, with additional experience in agriculture and energy. She is a co-founder of a healthcare startup focused on global systemic threats and opportunities, lectures at ESCP on NGOs and civil society in the International Business & Diplomacy Masters program, and serves as President of the American Club of Paris. Her work spans public, private, and nonprofit sectors in Europe and the Americas, where she specializes in strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, and resource development, as well as bridging cultural divides. Both as a consultant and as a Board member, she advises international companies and NGOs. She is a member of the board of the World Anti-Extremism Network, the Institute for Economic Studies Europe, and Young Voices. She holds a BA in German Studies and an MS in Management.

Emmanuelle Fauchart

Professor in entrepreneurship and innovation management at the University of Strasbourg. Member of BETA, research unit from CNRS. Associate researcher at EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland. Partner at JobZippers. Her research deals with the way identity and social norms affect behaviors and actions in the domains of entrepreneurship and innovation as well as with the motivations driving firms to undertake and succeed in collective actions. She is an alumni of Ecole normale supérieure de Cachan in France and holds a doctorate in economics from University Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.

The 8th edition of World Policy Conference will take place in Montreux, Switzerland / Nov. 20-22

18.11.15

Ora Noua

EIGHTH EDITION / Nov. 20-22, 2015

Fairmont Le Montreux Palace

Montreux, Switzerland

2015 Themes:

Session 1: Global economic order at the Crossroads

The revolution in information technologies and the geographical redistribution of economic power, in particular the emergence of China and weakening of the European Union, have led to a correction in the economic order resulting from the Second World War. Examples of this change are the rise of the G20 following the 2007-2008 crisis, and the weakening of trade multilateralism in favour of bilateral or plurilateral agreements.
Many observers are placing increasing importance on “geoeconomics”, understood as the intersection of international economics and geopolitics.
For example, the Chinese initiative to create the AIIB (Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank) should be analysed from this perspective. Growing interest in “geoeconomics” is also based on the increased importance of sanctions as a means of action in international relations. More thoroughly, one could argue that, despite appearances, certain aspects of globalisation might be in peril. Without ignoring the cyclical aspects of the global economy, the primary purpose of this session is to shed light on this fundamental question.

Session 2: The future of central banking

Since the crisis occurred, Central banks of large advanced economies have embarked on very accommodating conventional and unconventional monetary policy. What is the meaning of this persistent situation, more than eight years after the start of the subprime crisis and more than seven years after Lehman Brothers bankruptcy? In particular:

  • – What are the unintended financial and real economy consequences of such a long standing high level of monetary accommodation in the advanced economies?
  • – What is the likely impact, in particular on volatility of global financial markets, on the global economy and on emerging economies, of the progressive withdrawal of monetary stimulus that is presently proceeding in the United States?
  • – Are we experiencing a kind of “new normal” monetary policy required by persistent adverse new economic and financial structural features of the advanced economies?
  • – Are there key “fundamentals” of Central Banking that should be kept in mind in all circumstances (like central bank independence, medium and long term price stability goal, financial stability etc.)?

Session 3: Trade Agreements from the Viewpoint of Middle Powers

The objective of this session is to conduct a closer analysis of trade issues resulting from the structural transformations examined in session 1, through the experience of two “middle powers”: Korea and Canada.

Session 4: Do Firms have a Nationality?

In the enthusiastic early days of globalisation, it was fashionable to speak of “global corporations” as entities independent from national political ties, as if for example AT&T, Google or Amazon, Toyota, Samsung, Volkswagen or Michelin, were operating in a world where borders had been irreversibly removed. The aim of this session is to examine to what extent the ideology of globalisation should be revised in this regard.

Session 5: The future of the Middle East

The fall of the Soviet Union, and with it the Russian Empire, reopened the situation in the Middle East – in its wider sense, including, for example, Libya. Accumulated strategic errors have led to chaos and the growth of terrorism, the primary victims of which are regional populations but which also directly and strongly impact the interests of traditionally involved external powers, such as the Europeans and Russia. Among the most surprising and in many respects anachronistic recent developments is the meteoric rise of the so-called “Islamic State”. However, the nuclear deal with Iran opens the prospect of the country returning to the “Concert of Nations”, even if, in this instance, the established powers are still demonstrating many more signs of opposition than possible convergence. During this session, attended by some of the principal protagonists, attempts will be made to answer the following question: are we moving towards a trend of less or more chaos in the Middle East?

Session 6: Security in Asia in a Historical Perspective

The rise of China is without doubt the main geopolitical phenomenon in Asia, and historical experience, of which there is an abundance in this regard, shows that this type of situation often leads to war. In the current context, Asia is suffering from an institutional deficit in terms of regional security, made all the more regrettable by territorial disputes being coupled with formidable psychological confrontations, particularly between Japan and its Chinese and Korean neighbours. During this session, which will include the participation of eminent representatives from the region, we will attempt to take a step back and examine the chances of a reduction in tensions so as to limit the risk of accidental conflicts with a potentially devastating global impact.

Session 7: Peaceful coexistence of religions?

The political importance of religions is derived from their decisive role in structuring the identity and culture of peoples. Contemporary history shows that, when manipulated by fanatical leaders, they can still serve the cause of the most barbaric wars. Multiethnic or multireligious countries which manage to maintain a balance thanks to a climate of respect and tolerance are worthy of the attention of those concerned about the scourges of the modern world. Among these, Benin in Africa is a remarkable example.

Session 8: Food and water security

Food and access to drinking water are the primary conditions for health and development. Malnutrition and the unavailability of water of sufficient quality and quantity are at the root of lethal conflicts and uncontrollable migration. The solution to these problems is the province of political geography, but also of economic organisation and technology. This panel discussion will examine all aspects of the issue, with particular attention paid to Africa from a geographical point of view.

Session 9: Israeli-Palestinian dialogue

Close to seven decades since the creation of the Hebrew State, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict looks like a perpetual war. Is there any chance for a settlement in the foreseeable future?

Session 10: The global challenges of the digital technologies

Far from slowing down, the revolution in information technologies continues at a frenetic pace. The Internet of Things, increasingly sophisticated robotisation, drones and 3D printing make the concept of the border a little more blurred with each passing day and open entirely new perspectives – positive but also negative – on globalisation, and the implications for global governance, in particular legal and ethical issues, merit exploration without delay.

Session 11: Health and global governance

During this session, which complements session 8 but also session 10, we will examine the positive prospects for health opened by the technological revolution and globalisation, but also any associated risks and ways of countering them.

Session 12: Climate and environment

This session will examine the issue of climate with the immediate prospect of COP21, and will explore three fundamental, long-term questions. Firstly, the role of enterprises. Secondly, the ethical dimension is of primary importance, since the stakes are nothing less than how the action of humans will affect the future of the Earth. Thirdly, negotiations on climate are undoubtedly only a first example of situations which are likely to multiply, where diplomacy will be immediately required to tackle problems that are increasingly truly planetary in scale. Despite not inconsiderable expertise in multilateralism, we are still seriously lacking in experience when it comes to this kind of complexity.

Session 13: Europe’s refugee crisis

In terms of its current and potential scale, this crisis is comparable to those which affected the continent in the aftermath of the two global conflicts of the 20th century, but with three differences. Firstly, in this instance we can more clearly see the conjunction of specifically economic causes and geopolitical causes. Secondly, current migration flows are being reinforced by use of communication technologies. Thirdly, immigrants are coming from a range of different civilisations. To this is added the risk of the infiltration of individuals belonging to terrorist groups, at a time when the threat is high in Europe. This crisis therefore represents a major challenge for the European Union. The nature of these causes means that other parts of the world could experience comparable challenges. This session is related in an obvious way to session 5.

Session 14: Final debate

This final, traditional session will be used to draw conclusions from all of the discussions held over the three days and to complete them with any topical points not sufficiently dealt with at the time.

http://www.worldpolicyconference.com/2015-invited-guests/

Arthur Rutishauser

Editor in chief of SonntagsZeitung since December 2013. Previously he was member of the editorship of the Tages-Anzeiger, a daily newspaper from Zurich during four years. As a journalist, he covered UBS during the financial crisis and Swissair until the bankruptcy of the national airline. For this he was named investigative journalist of the year 2013 and got in 2002 the Zürcher Journalistenpreis. He holds a doctorate of economics from the university of Zurich.

Pierre Sigonney

Chief Economist, Corporate Strategy of Total. He is following the evolution of economic activity and the oil and gas markets in the short term and the long term, on the upstream and downstream sides and their impact on Total strategy. Before he joined Total in 1999, he worked at the French Ministry of Finance, in the Treasury Department, following economic activity. He graduated from the Ecole Polytechnique, France and from the Ecole Nationale de la Statistique et de l’Administration Economique. He also holds a Master in International Economics and Finance from Paris Dauphine University.

2015 Agenda

Download 2015 agenda

Conference themes

08:30 – 09:45

Opening session

09:45 – 11:00

Plenary session 1: Global economic order at the Crossroads

11:00 – 11:30

Coffee-break

11:30 – 12:45

Plenary session 2: The future of central banking

13:00 – 14:30

Lunch

14:45 – 15:30

Plenary session 3: Washington’s view of the political and geopolitical implications of November 13th attacks in Paris

15:30 – 16:30

Plenary session 4: Trade Agreements from the Viewpoint of Middle Powers

16:30 – 17:30

Plenary session 5: Do Firms have a Nationality?

17:30 – 18:00

Coffee-break

18:00 – 19:30

Plenary session 6: The future of the Middle East

20:30

Dinner debate

08:00 – 09:30

Plenary session 7: Security in Asia in a Historical Perspective

09:30 – 10:00

Coffee-break

10:00 – 10:45

Plenary session 8: Peaceful coexistence of religions?

10:45 – 12:00

Plenary session 9: Food and water security

12:15 – 13:45

Lunch debate with Planning Staff Directors

14:00 – 14:45

Plenary session 10: Israeli-Palestinian dialogue

14:45 – 16:00

Plenary session 11: The global challenges of the digital technologies

16:15 – 19:15

Parallel workshops
Workshop 1: Energy

Synopsis

Workshop 2: Economy and Finance

Synopsis

Workshop 3: China

Synopsis

19:30 – 20:00

Cocktail

20:00

Gala dinner

08:00 – 08:45

Reports from parallel workshops

08:45 – 09:45

Plenary session 12: Health and global governance

09:45 – 11:30

Plenary session 13: Climate and Environment

11:30 – 12:15

Plenary session 14: Iran and Middle East

12:15 – 13:45

Plenary session 15: Europe’s refugee crisis

14:00 – 15:00

Lunch

15:00 – 16:45

Plenary session 16: Final debate

16:45

Envoi

Vitaly Naumkin

President of the Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) since 2015; Director in 2009-2015; Deputy Director in 1989-1994. He is Professor, Dr. of Science and Full Member of RAS. He has been serving as Editor-in-chief, Vostok (Oriens) journal since 1998; Professor and Chair of the Faculty of World Politics, Moscow State University since 2003; Professor, High School of Economics, Moscow. He was Member, High Level Group, UN Alliance of Civilizations project in 2005-2007, currently Goodwill Ambassador for the Alliance of Civilizations. He was Visiting Professor, American University in Cairo in 1991, and Visiting Professor, University of California in Berkeley in 2003. From 2016 until now he has been Senior Political Advisor to the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the UN for Syria. Member of the Advisory Council under the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia. Author of more than 500 publications in History, Political Science, International Relations, Conflict Management and Resolution, Islam, Middle East and Central Asian Studies.

Laurent Cohen-Tanugi

Member of the Paris and New York Bars. Founder and managing partner, Laurent Cohen-Tanugi Avocats. He served as Chairman of the French governmental task force on Europe in the global economy (2007-2008). He was a Partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (2005-2007), Senior Vice-President and General Counsel, Member of the Executive Committee of the Sanofi-Synthelabo pharmaceutical group (2004) and a Partner at Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton (1991-2003). He also served as FCPA Independent Corporate Monitor appointed by the United States Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission (2011-2014). He graduated from Harvard Law School, University Paris I, Panthéon-Sorbonne Law School, the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris (1980) and the Ecole Normale Supérieure. He has authored many influential books on democracy and the rule of law, European integration, transatlantic relations, and globalization.

Mbuih Zukane

Teacher, University of Dschang and CEO ICAD – Cameroon. He has 11 years of experience, working as a senior youth worker and an international cooperation expert. He lectures youth leadership as a transversal course in the University of Dschang, Cameroon and he is a co-founder of the African Network of Youth Policy Experts. He is also the founder and CEO of a youth-led organization dubbed InterCultural Alliance for Development. He has diplomas from UNDP, UNICEF, UNWomen, and POTI, USA. His numerous professional publications focus on his research and clinical interests in youth development and international cooperation.

Marième Diop

Desk Manager, President’s Delivery Unit, Senegal. She is in charge of coordinating and monitoring five of the country’s twenty-seven flagship development projects. She worked as an analyst for BearingPoint Consulting before joining the telecommunication giant, Orange, as a business consulting manager. In her current role with the government, she is tasked with leveraging Senegal’s advantageous geographical location to attract top investors and tourists from around the Atlantic Basin. She graduated from Telecom Paris.

Eve Fofana

Deputy Country Manager, General Electric, Côte d’Ivoire. Her primary role is to identify and translate commercial opportunities into bankable projects for all the different businesses of GE in Francophone sub-Saharan Africa. She co-led the new implantation of GE in Côte d’Ivoire and continues to be involved in the daily operations. Prior to this, she spent seven years with GE Capital France where she held several positions. Her professional experience includes finance work with American Express in France and operations handling with Air France – KLM in the United States. She graduated in marketing and business administration from Baruch College.

Yassine Moustanjidi

Architect and Urban Planner, Klaus Müller GMBH, Germany. He is a practitioner and researcher on the issues of urban sustainability and mega-urbanization. He has worked intensively on urbanization challenges within the Middle East and North Africa region, China, and Europe, and has actively participated in a variety of international conferences, competitions, and workshops on the topic. He also took part in regional leadership programs, including the U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative in Washington, DC and Young Arab Leaders in Kuala Lumpur. He graduated from the Technical University of Berlin, Tongji University, Shanghai, and the Ecole Nationale d’architecture, Rabat.

Peter Harling

Special advisor Middle-East (based in Beirut and Riyadh), International Crisis Group since 2014. He held several positions in the International Crisis Group such as Special advisor Middle-East (based in Cairo and Damascus) (2013), Director, Egypt/Syria/Lebanon/Iraq/Gulf (based in Cairo and Damascus) (2012) and Director, Egypt/Syria/Lebanon (based in Cairo and Damascus) (2011-2012). He was Advisor to joint United Nations/Arab League special envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi in 2013. He worked as an expert on a committee for the prevention of conflict at Chirac Foundation (Paris). From 2002 to 2006, he was reporting in and on Iraq for Le Monde Diplomatique. He graduated from the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (Paris).

Prince Boadu

CEO and co-founder of MapTech Logistics Limited, a company that uses the power of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to solve business problems by developing and deploying GIS based applications. He also founded EVOLV.Africa, a non-profit that empowers youth with entrepreneurship and leadership skills through seminars, conferences, and workshops. He has worked as logistics and supply chain analyst for Clean Team Ghana. He is founding curator of TEDxKNUST, has been named a World Economic Forum Global Shaper, and was recently named as one of 30 under 30 emerging Ghanaians to watch by Future of Ghana Magazine. He holds an master’s of business administration in logistics & supply chain management from KNUST-Kumasi.

Bernard Siman

Senior Fellow and Adviser to the Board of Geopolitical Information Service AG. His experience spans financial services, geopolitical risk analysis and scenarios, cross cultural Management and conflict resolution and mediation, and financial diplomacy. He worked in Japan, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa and Turkey.

Antoine Rostand

Senior Advisor, Schlumberger, after serving as President of Schlumberger Business Consulting, an independent business unit of Schlumberger that he founded in 2004. An engineer by training, he joined Schlumberger in 1986 as a field engineer and spent the first years of his career working in Europe and Africa for major Oil and Gas companies. After 6 years spent with ICME, the leading strategy consultancy in Switzerland, he was made a partner by AT-Kearney in 1996. Following the acquisition of AT-Kearney by EDS, he was appointed CEO for EDS France. He rejoined Schlumberger in 2002. He graduated from Ecole polytechnique and completed the INSEAD MBA program and a Finance program at IMD.

Sophie Turrettini

Secretary-General of the Fondation Dr Henri Dubois-Ferrière Dinu Lipatti and board member of several charity foundations in Geneva. In charge of administration, accounting and human resources for several companies in various industries. Member of the board of the WPC Foundation since 2013.

Corinne Colloc’h

Head of Corporate Development, Airbus Group. Responsible for supporting Group strategic development and portfolio review in strong coordination with operational Divisions. In former functions she previously led the Airbus Group Internal Audit with a specific focus on major programme review and risk management. She used to work in Airbus Group Inc in Washington DC as head of integration, strategy and planning with a strong focus on the North American Defense and Security market and also supported the Defense and Security Division in strategic and business development matters. She also worked for Airbus group Merger and Acquisition department.

Olivier Sigg

Partner in the Geneva private client practice of Froriep, one of Switzerland’s main law firms with offices in Geneva, Zurich, Zug, Lausanne, London and Madrid. He has been with Froriep since 2005 and became a partner in 2015. During 2010 and 2011, Olivier was seconded to a prominent London law firm and then spent several months in the London office of Froriep. He combines expertise and experience in advising international high-net-worth individuals on estate and tax planning, asset protection, relocation and philanthropy. He is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and a committee member of STEP Geneva. He graduated from the University of Geneva.

Patrick Pouyanné

Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of TotalEnergies SE. Patrick Pouyanné joined the company TotalEnergies (ex-Total) in January 1997, with positions in Angola and Qatar in 1999. He held several senior responsibilities within the company (in Exploration & Production, Refining & Chemicals, the Executive Committee) until he was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO in December, 2015. Previously, Patrick Pouyanné held various positions in the French Industry Ministry and in ministerial offices (1989-1996), including Environment and Industry Technical Advisor to the Prime minister (1993-1995) and Chief of Staff to the Information Technology and Space Minister (1995-1996). He is also member of the Board of several organizations such as Capgemini and Institut Polytechnique of Paris, and President of the Association française des entreprises pour l’environnement (French association of enterprises for the environment). He is a Graduate of École polytechnique and Chief Engineer of the French Corps des mines. He is a Knight of the Legion of Honor.

Mugur Isărescu

Governor of the National Bank of Romania since 1990. He is Member of the Romanian Academy since 2006. He served as Prime Minister (1999-2000). He held the position of Secretary in charge of economic and monetary issues with the Romanian Embassy in Washington, D.C. (1990). He has been Director of the Institute of World Economy since 1997. He also served as Governor for Romania in the IMF’s Board of Governors and as Vice-President of the Inter Ministerial Committee for the Transition to the Euro. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the Academy of Economics in Bucharest.

Sheikh Meshal Bin Hamad Al-Thani

Former Ambassador of the State of Qatar to France (2013-2016). Previously, he served as Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations in New York (2011-2013). He was Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Belgium (2007-2011), Counsellor at the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Brussels (2004-2007) and he worked at the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Washington (2000-2004). He also worked at the Permanent Delegation of the State of Qatar in New York (1998-2000). He started his career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1997. He graduated in international relations from the American University, Washington.

Akinwumi Adesina

President of the African Development Bank Group. He has wide-ranging experience, having lived and worked in 15 African countries for 10 years. He served as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Nigeria. Previously, he was Vice President (policy and partnerships) of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) where he led several bold policy and innovative finance initiatives. He also worked as Associate Director for the Rockefeller Foundation for 10 years (1998-2008), including serving as the Regional Office Director for the Southern Africa Office, based in Zimbabwe. He graduated from the University of Ife, Nigeria. He holds a Ph.D. in agricultural economics from Purdue University, USA.

Zhang Yunling

Professor, Academy Member and Director of International Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Science (CASS), Director of Center of Regional Security, CASS, Member of National Committee of Chinese Political Consultant Conference (since 2002), President of China Association of Asia-Pacific Studies. He is also Honorable Chairman of China Committee of PECC, Vice president of China-ROK Friendship Association, Board member of ERIA. He was Director of Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies (1993-2007). He served as a member of East Asia Vision Group (2000-2001, EAVG II, 2012-2013). Latest Publication: Between the Ideal and Reality-Thinking of East Asian cooperation (Chinese, 2015).

Estelle Youssouffa

Member of Parliament of the French National Assembly since her election in June 2022 and she seats in the Foreign Affairs Commission. She is the representative of the first electoral district of her native island of Mayotte, a French overseas territory located in the Eastern African Mozambique Channel. Estelle is part of the Center-Right political group “Libertés, Indépendants, Outre-mer et Territoires”. Her civic engagement as the head of the citizens movement in Mayotte and her election followed her 20-year career as a TV journalist and communication and international affairs consultant. Among various international companies and institutions, Estelle worked for the World Bank as well as the African Development Bank as a consultant and as a journalist for France 2, TV5 Monde, Al Jazeera English and LCI. She created a conference called The Leaders’ Seminar which gathered 60 Western, Arab and African leaders in Marrakech in 2014, Abidjan in 2016, Kigali in 2017. She is a member of the Africa Leadership Network, an alumna of the Young Leaders program of the French-American Foundation (2011-2012) and the German Marshall Fund’s Atlantic Dialogues Young Leaders program (2013). Born in 1978, Estelle graduated with a degree in journalism studies in Tours, France, before studying international relations and political studies at Quebec University of Montreal, Canada.

Thomas Wilhelm

Doctor of Laws, lawyer, Founder and Partner in the law firm Wilhelm & Büchel Rechtsanwälte since 1992. He also serves as Hon Treasurer of STEP, Vaduz Centre. He was admitted to the Liechtenstein Bar in 1990. He holds a Ph.D. from Innsbruck University (Austria).

Nobuo Tanaka

Chairman of The Sasakawa Peace Foundation since 2015. Former Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) (2007-2011). He began his career in 1973 in the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) in Tokyo and has served in a number of high-ranking positions in METI, including Director-General of the Multilateral Trade System Department. He served as both Deputy Director and Director for Science, Technology and Industry (DSTI) of the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Upon return from the IEA, he became Global Associate for Energy Security and Sustainability at the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan and Professor, Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of Tokyo. He holds a degree in Economics from the University of Tokyo and a MBA from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.

Kostas G. Stamoulis

Director, Strategic Programme Leader, Food Security and Nutrition in FAO. Between 2008 and 2015 he was Director of the Agricultural Development Economics Division of FAO. He also served as Secretary of the Committee on World Food Security (2007-2015). Before joining FAO in 1989, he was Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics at the University of Illinois in Urbana Champaign. He holds a degree in Economics from the Economics University of Athens, Greece, a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Georgia, USA and a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of California at Berkeley.

Srdjan Saper

Founder and chairman of I&F McCann Grupa, one of the leading marketing communications networks in Southeast Europe. He has more than 25 years’ experience in the marketing and communications field and he has progressively become not only a leading professional in marketing, but also one of the most prominent public figures and active contributors in the world of business, politics and culture of contemporary Serbia and Southeast Europe.

Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo

Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences since 1998. In 1999, he was appointed Secretary Prelate of the Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas. In 2001, His Holiness John Paul II consecrated him titular Bishop of Vescovìo. He was also decorated as Cavaliere di gran croce of the Italian Republic in 1999, official of honour of the Légion d’Honneur by the Republic of France in 2000, Grão Mestre da Ordem de Rio Branco by the Republic of Brazil in 2004, official of the Republic of Austria in 2004, and knight of the Republic of Chile in 2006.