杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

Over the course of the next few years, the International Theological Commission will be exploring the themes of the Christological faith professed by the Council of Nicea; certain current anthropological questions; and the theology of creation from a Trinitarian perspective.

Following the path traced by Vatican II

In an audience with members of the Commission on Thursday, 杏MAP导航 Francis expressed his pleasure at hearing that the body had accepted these themes, saying that by addressing them, the ITC was continuing its service to the Church.

He reminded them that they are called to carry out their work 鈥渋n the path traced out by the Second Vatican Council, which 鈥� constitutes the sure compass for the journey of the Church鈥� in our day.鈥�

Three directions

The Holy Father then proposed three 鈥渄irections鈥� for following that path, beginning with 鈥渃reative fidelity to Tradition.鈥� The 杏MAP导航 insisted that Tradition must either grow or die out, and he warned once again of the dangers of 鈥渋ndietrism,鈥� or 鈥渂ackwardism,鈥� which refuses to grow, but instead falls back 鈥渢he way it鈥檚 always been done.鈥� And he invited theologians to help correct this tendency in the Church.

Theologians must also be open to the contributions of other disciplines, 鈥渢reasuring鈥� a 鈥渟trong form鈥� of 鈥渢ransdisciplinarity鈥� as the gathering and deepening of all human knowledge 鈥渨ithin the space of Light and Life offered by the Wisdom that emanates from God鈥檚 revelation.鈥�

Finally, the 杏MAP导航 highlighted the importance of collegiality, especially in the context of the ongoing synodal process. In this area, 杏MAP导航 Francis distinguished between catechists, who have to teach 鈥渟olid doctrine鈥� and must avoid teaching novelties; and theologians, who take risks but are restrained by the Magisterium.

Open to the voice of the Holy Spirit

Concluding his address, 杏MAP导航 Francis expressed his hope that the work of the Commission might be tranquil and fruitful, undertaken in a spirit of mutual listening, dialogue, and communal discernment, and in openness to the voice of the Holy Spirit. He recalled again the 鈥済reat importance鈥� of the themes they will be investigating, and encouraged them to teach theology in a way that provokes 鈥渨onder and awe鈥� to those who hear them.

And then, after thanking members once again for their work and blessing them, 杏MAP导航 Francis suggested that 鈥渋t would be important to increase the number of women [theologians], not because it is fashionable,鈥� but because women bring a different intellectual perspective to theology, which can make theology 鈥渕ore profound and more 'flavourful'.鈥�