Who are we?
Fr Fernando F. Franco SJ
Fr Franco is the Director of the Social Justice Secretariat. After teaching Economics at St. Xavier’s College and working at the NGO Behavioural Science Centre, Ahmedabad, India he worked for three years as Director of Research at the Indian Social Institute, New Delhi. He has published various books on the culture and life of Dalits in India, and was involved in training lay leaders among indigenous (Adivasi) groups in India and Gujarat. He came to the Secretariat after living 37 years in India. Through his frequent travels he animates the work of Jesuits and partners engaged in the social sector. He is also the Editor of Promotio Iustititiae, the quarterly journal published by the Secretariat.
Ms Carvajal is the Publishing Co-ordinator of Promotio Iustitiae, responsible for all aspects of typesetting, production and shipping. She has a background in Mathematics which she taught at university level. She has painstakingly built up a rich data base, provides administrative support and ensures the smooth running of the office. Ms Carvajal is originally from Chile but has lived and worked in Italy for over 20 years. She is fluent in Spanish, Italian and French.
Ms Sievers is the Communication Officer of the Social Justice Secretariat. She writes and publishes the monthly electronic bulletin of the office, Headlines, and copy-edits the English and Italian versions of Promotio Iustitiae. She also has responsibility for the content of the website. With the help of the website, she strengthens the linkages among members of networks that the Secretariat coordinates, e.g. the Ignatian Ecology Network. Ms Sievers is originally from Germany but has lived in the United Kingdom from 2001 to 2006, where she has worked with refugees and homeless people. She is fluent in German, English and Italian.
Giuseppe Riggio is a Jesuit scholastic who is doing his regency (two year period between philosophical and theological studies) at the Social Justice Secretariat. He manages projects, e.g. the editing process of the Catalogue of the Social Apostolate, and works with the other members of the team in the various activities of the Secretariat. He is responsible for the dispatch of our quarterly journal, Promotio Iustitiae. Before entering the Society of Jesus, Giuseppe graduated in law and was accredited to the bar of Rome. He specialised in law and economy of the European Union. A native speaker of Italian, he is fluent in English.
Felipe Carvajal
Felipe helps with data entry and provides occasional transport for our staff and guests. He was born in Italy and currently studies Information Technology at the Sapienza University of Rome.