It is structurally changing the way men and women today understand the fundamental experiences of their existence: engendering, being born and dying. Faced with this anthropological revolution in progress, a deep reflection is necessary to renew thought. A challenge that affects all Christians, whatever Church they belong to.
Patricia Ynestroza-Vatican City
Pope Francis sent a message to the participants in the XVII Inter-Christian Symposium, jointly promoted by the Franciscan Institute of Spirituality of the Pontifical University Antonianum and the Department of Theology of the Orthodox Theological Faculty of the “Aristotle” University of Thessaloniki. A symposium taking place August 28-30 in the Italian city of Trani, on the topic “What is man?” (Ps 8, 5) in the time of anthropological mutation.
In the letter, the Pope addressed the prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, Cardinal Kurt Koch, to congratulate the organizers of “this unique experience of concrete collaboration between Catholics and Orthodox, which has already become “a beautiful tradition.” Referring to the title of the Symposium, Francisco said that it speaks of a time of anthropological mutation, and asserted that what is happening today could be described as a true revolution.
What is man?
“The changes caused by the information revolution, such as, for example, the development of artificial intelligence, and the incredible advances in science, are forcing men and women today to rethink their identity, their role in the world and in society, and its vocation for transcendence. Indeed, the specificity of the human being in the whole of creation, his uniqueness with respect to other animals, and even his relationship with machines, are constantly questioned,” said the Holy Father.
The Pontiff also warned that the way men and women today understand the fundamental experiences of their existence, such as engendering, being born and dying, is structurally changing. Faced with this ongoing anthropological revolution, he said, it is not possible to react only with denial and criticism.
“Rather, a deep reflection is necessary, capable of renewing the thinking and the options to be made.”
This challenge affects all Christians, whatever Church they belong to. For this reason, he finally noted, it is particularly interesting that Catholics and Orthodox promote this reflection together. In particular, in light of the teaching of Sacred Scripture and Christian Tradition, Francis said that it is necessary to reaffirm that every human being is endowed with dignity by the mere fact of existing, as a spiritual entity, created by God and destined to a filial relationship with Him (cf. Eph 1, 4-5), regardless of whether or not he acts in accordance with his dignity, the socioeconomic situations in which he lives or his existential conditions.
“The defense of this dignity against very specific threats such as poverty, war, exploitation and others, is a common commitment in which all Churches must work together.”
