“I think that the study of theology is of the greatest importance. It is an indispensable service to the Church.”[1]
The past ten years of the papacy of Pope Francis have been a time of extraordinary activity and challenge for the Church. Whether involved with internal renewal and synodality, with the urgency of apostolic outreach to other faiths, or opposing conflicts and the ever-widening consequences of the ecological crisis, the pope has been concerned with the Church’s mission. His easy pastoral and colloquial style has led many – supporters and critics – to think of him as a “pastor” and not a philosopher like St. John Paul II or a theologian like Benedict XVI. Although it is certainly true that his style is distinctive, it would be a mistake to underrate and undervalue the intellectual depth and theological insights that inform his teaching and actions. Pope Francis is the first non-European pope and in many ways we are all still adjusting to the perspectives and experiences that he contributes.
An under-recognized aspect of his papacy has been his vision of theology and its need for renewal if it is to effectively serve the mission of the Church in the contemporary world. How well is the Church served by the current state of theology and the variety of theological schools and methodologies that operate within it? Plurality is not the problem here. Has there ever been a time when there was not theological pluralism in the Church? Pluralism and diversity do not damage Christian theology but enrich it. Though it may call for careful discernment, it is clear that a living faith grows and develops in contact with cultures. As we are learning from the synodal process, mission is a mutual relationship, as all parts of the Church are missionary to one another.
The problem is more about where formal theology actually takes place today and in whose service it operates. Two of these places are the university and the seminary with their respective cultures. This article is reserved for paid subscribers. Please subscribe to continue reading this article
Subscribe