OFFICIAL NAME
International Council of Catholic Men
Fédération Internationale des Hommes Catholiques
ACRONYM
ICCM
ALSO KNOWN AS
FIHC - Unum Omnes
ESTABLISHED
1948
HISTORY
Unum Omnes was established in September 1948 when some Catholic gentlemen belonging to various national associations of the International Federation of Men’s Associations of Catholic Action, created by the Italian Catholic Action Men’s Union, met in Lourdes to discuss the formation of an international Catholic men’s organisation from which they could derive mutual support for their own missions in their countries. The resultant organisation became known as the International Federation of Catholic Men made up of societies, associations and movements of Catholic Men in various countries. In December 1950 it was named Unum Omnes to reflect Jesus’ prayer in John 17:21 that “all may be one”. Pope Pius XII approved the initial idea of the Federation, and in 1956, affirmed it.
The first statute of 1950 was reviewed and clarified in 1976. It was further reviewed in May 2007 to accommodate some updates and modifications required by the new Canon Law and to reinforce the tie of Unum Omnes to the Holy See. That year, the Pontifical Council for the Laity recognised the International Council of Catholic Men as an international association of the faithful.
Unum Omnes was a front-line protagonist during the Second Vatican Council. Members of Unum Omnes actively participated in the formulation of two important Council documents: The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, Gaudium et Spes and the decree on the Apostolate of Lay People, Apostolicam Actuositatem.
Unum Omnes has contributed in no small way to the promotion, teaching and spreading of Catholicism and its social doctrine as part of the Church’s evangelisation mission through its member associations.
IDENTITY
Unum Omnes brings together national organisations of Catholic men committed to the apostolate and dissemination of the Church’s teachings. It fosters contacts between member associations in order to encourage mutual familiarity and assistance and to cooperate in the work of evangelisation. It encourages the establishment of new Catholic men’s organisations and creates and maintains relations with international organisations sharing the same or similar objectives. It speaks out to public opinion and international organisations on the thinking of Catholic men, regarding matters of general interest and concern.
ORGANISATION
Unum Omnes is governed by a six-member Bureau made up of a President, two Vice Presidents, a Secretary General, a Treasurer and Ecclesiastical Assistant all of whom are elected for a period of three years except the Secretary General and the Ecclesiastical Assistant.
In addition, there is a board of Directors composed of the Bureau members, eight Directors elected by the General Assembly and an additional one or two members may be co-opted by the Board for specified duties for a term of three years. The eight elected Directors serve in rotation for a period of not more than six years. The Board serves as the Executive Committee and meets annually in between General Assembly meetings.
The highest decision–making body is the General Assembly held every three years.
Membership is open to all national Catholic men’s organisations dedicated to apostolic activity and approved by their ecclesiastical authority. In countries where such national organisations do not exist, mixed national organisations of men and women can become members except that they shall be represented at ICCM meetings by men.
WORKS
Unum Omnes helps to spread the Social Doctrine of the Church to many Catholics in member countries through their local organisations. Other examples of initiatives implemented by the member associations are the Social Doctrine courses for parliamentarians in Argentina, Austria, Germany and in Eastern European countries; initiatives aimed at caring for the Earth, in the wake of the encyclical Laudato Si'; participation in poverty reduction programmes; help for the establishment of men’s associations in needy countries.
PUBLICATIONS
Outcomes and proceedings of Executive Meetings and General Assemblies (The Man in the Family, Slovakia, September 2004; The Logic of Solidarity to save the world, December 2006; The responsibility of men towards poverty, environment and peace, September 2006; Sustaining the Church in Africa: The role of Men, September 2006).
WEBSITE
HEADQUARTERS
F.I.H.C. UNUM OMNES
Palazzo San Calisto
00120 Città del Vaticano
E-mail: unum-omnes@libero.it
