Posted in the preceding page:
Bakcgrounder on
the Holy Father's pastoral visit today to the Basilica of St. Lawrence outside the Walls,
on St. Lawrence and the 1750th anniversary of his maertyrdom, and on the Basilica itself.
This editorial commenting on Pope Benedict XVI's recent letter to Marcello Pera is notable for avoiding the phrase 'inter-religious dialog', which the letter had termed to be 'impossible' in the strict sense of the word.
Thus the editorial speaks directly of 'the choice of the Catholic Church to dialog directly with the cultures of the world' - another way of saying that meaningful and concrete dialog among religions is primarily a dialog among the cultures represented and shaped by their respective religions.
Openness and reason
Editorial
by Giovanni Maria Vian
Translated from
the 11/30/08 issue of
The tragic events of the past few days - which have struck and caused great confusion in a great nation which has already been the theater of repeated events of intolerance and violence against Christian minorities - confirm once more that a dialog among the cultures of the world is the only course to follow for human coexistence.
As Benedict XVI has been repeating since the start of his Pontificate, and that he recently confirmed in a letter to Senator Marcello Pera. Included in the book just released by the Pera entitled
Perché dobbiamo dirci cristiani, the brief papal text underscores some of his analyses.
Among these, the statement that "the essence of liberalism starting from its foundations, is rooted in the Christian image of God: man's relationship with God of whom he is the image and from whom we received the gift of freedom.".
And the urgency of that dialog which - the Point underscores with lucidity - would "explore in depth the cultural consequences of underlying religious decisions".
In this way, Benedict XVI has once more highlighted the importance of dialog among cultures as a way that is more practical and appropriate to examining the consequences of basically religious choices in public confrontation. In such a way, says the Pope, "dialog and mutual correction and reciprocal enrichment are possible and necessary".
Even in difficult times as those today this confirms
the choice of the Catholic Church to open itself to dialog with the cultures of the world. With the intention that this dialog - a term dear to Paul VI, who made this openness the theme of his programmatic encyclical (
Ecclesiam suam) - be authentic and bear fruit.
Therefore, not just a superficial dialog that affirms its principles but also deepens 'consciousness of itself' - as
Ecclesiam suam declares - in order to proceed 'with candid confidence' 'along the ways of history' and repeat to all men, "I have what it is you are searching for, that which you lack".
The words of Benedict XVI have been understood and appreciated even beyond the confines of the Catholic world and so his reiterated intention of encounter and friendship with Judaism and Islam are bearing fruit.
The Pope continues to appeal to everyone's reason and tirelessly asks that this reason open up to every interlocutor: on reasonable subjects they share in common, such as the dignity of the human being - creature and image of God, and religious freedom.
These are, in fact, some of those 'cultural consequences' about which it is urgent to face together, such as what happened after his Regensburg lecture.
The Church, Paul VI wrote, does not promise happiness on earth but offers its light and grace in order to achieve it. And it "speaks to men of their transcendent destiny", reasoning on "truth, justice, freedom, progress, concord, peace, civilization. These are words of which the Church knows the secret - Christ had entrusted it to her".
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 30/11/2008 12:12]