ADDRESS TO THE INTERNATIONAL THEOLOGICAL COMMISSION, 12/5/08
Here is a translation of the Holy Father's address to members of the International Theological Commission whom he met at the Hall of the Popes of the Apostolic Palace today.
Venerated brothers in the Episcopate and Priesthood,
Distinguished Professors,
Dear Co-Workers:
it is with true joy that I welcome you at the end of your annual Plenary Session which this time coincides with the conclusion of the 7th quinquennial term since the creation of the International Theological Commission.
I wish first of all to express my heartfelt gratitude for the words of tribute delivered in your name by Mons. Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, as secretary-general of the Commission.
And I extend my thanks to all of you who, during the past five years, have spent your energies in truly valuable work for the Church and for him whom the Lord called to carry out the ministry of the Successor of Peter.
In fact, the work of this seventh five-year term of the Commission has already borne fruit with the publication of the document "Hope of salvation for children who die without baptism", and you are about to reach another important goalpost with the document "In search of a universal ethic: A new look at natural law", which must now be subjected to the last steps provided for by the Statutes of the Commission before its final approval.
As I have had previous occasions to state, I reiterate the need and the urgency, in today's context, to create in the culture and in civilian and political society the conditions indispensable for full awareness of the irrenunciable value of natural moral law.
Thanks to the studies that you have undertaken on this basic subject, it will be made clear that natural law constitutes the true guarantee offered to everyone to live freely and respected in his dignity as a person, and to feel himself defended from ideological manipulation by anyone and from every abuse of power perpetrated on the basis of the law of the strongest.
About the third subject, "The sense and method of theology", which has been your particular object of study in this five-year term, I hasten to underscore its relevance and actuality.
In a planetary society like that which is taking shape these days, public opinion often calls on theologians to promote dialog among religions and cultures, to contribute to the development of an ethic that has peace, justice and defense of the natural environment as its basic coordinates.
In this perspective, theologians are also asked to offer adequate answers towards overcoming the alienations that condition and oppress the lives of single individuals.
Obviously, these are all legitimate concerns that deserve attentive consideration. None theless, one cannot ignore that the identity of theology is not to be found at this level of problems and exigency.
The human need for transcendence and orientation, that is sustainable and worthy of universal attention, postulates the centrality of truth. The essential and indispensable characteristic of theology is to pose questions about the truth of the faith, not simply to interrogate oneself about its practical and social effectiveness.
From the objective point of view, truth is the revelation of God in Jesus Christ, who asks as a response the obedience of faith in communion with the Church and its Magisterium.
If the identity of theology is thus recovered - that is, understood as a reasoned, systematic and methodical reflection on Revelation and faith - even the question of its method is illuminated.
Method in theology cannot only be constituted on the basis of criteria and norms common to other sciences, but it should first of all observe the principles and norms that derive from Revelation and faith, in its personal and ecclesial dimension.
From the subjective point of view - that is, from that of the person who does theology - the fundamental virtue of the theologian is to look for obedience to the faith, which makes him a cooperator in the truth.
In this way, he will not be speaking of himself: rather, interiorly purified by obedience to the truth, he will arrive instead at the point where truth itself can speak in him. At the same time, he will obtain that through him, truth may be brought to the world.
On the other hand, obedience to the truth does not mean renouncing research and the effort of thought. The disquiet of thinking - which undoubtedly can never be fully placated in the life of believers, the moment they are on the path of a search and in-depth study of Truth - will nonetheless be a disquiet which will accompany and stimulate them in the pilgrimage of thought towards God, and will thus result in something profound.
Thus I hope that your reflection on these subjects will arrive at bringing back light to the authentic principles and the solid significance of true theology, in order to perceive and understand ever better the answers that Divine Revelation offers us and without which we cannot live wisely and rightly.
My thanks then for your commitment and your work in the International Theological Commission during these past five years, and at the same time, a cordial wish for the future work of this important organism in the service of the Apostolic See and the entire Church.
In renewing my expressions of satisfaction, affection and joy for today's encounter, I invoke the Lord, through the intercession of the Most Blessed Virgin, for copious celestial light on your work, and from the heart, I impart a special Apostolic Blessing, which I extend to those who are dear to you.