Pope Francis calls on theologians to “put Christ back at the center”

Alexandra Sirgant – Vatican City

Pope Francis received in audience the participants in the plenary of the International Theological Commission, a curial body established by Pope Paul VI in 1969 in order to respond to the desire expressed by the synod fathers during the first ordinary assembly of the Synod of Bishops . Recalling the recent conclusion last October of the XVI Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, as well as the upcoming opening of the Holy Door, the Holy Father invited the members of the commission to “put Christ at the center» et «to develop a theology of synodality».

1700th anniversary of the first Ecumenical Council of Nicaea

The Jubilee, which will begin on December 24, “invites us to rediscover the face of Christ and to refocus on him», Underlined the Sovereign Pontiff. The Jubilee Year 2025 will also mark the 1700e anniversary of the first great ecumenical council, the Council of Nicaea, which “constitutes an important step in the journey of the Church and of all humanity, because faith in Jesus, Son of God made flesh for us men and for our salvation, was formulated and professed there as a light which illuminates the meaning of reality and the destiny of all history“. Reiterating his wish to go to Nicaea next year, the Bishop of Rome urged theologians to encourage the encounter with Christ and to deepen the meaning of his mystery, in order to better understand “what is the breadth, length, height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge» (Ep 3, 18-19).

The Council of Nicaea,by affirming that the Son is of the same substance as the Father“, highlights something essential, explained François: “in Jesus we can know the face of God and, at the same time, the face of man, discovering ourselves sons in the Son and brothers among us». «A fraternity rooted in Christ which becomes for us a fundamental ethical task».

Thus, the Pope underlined the importance of the work carried out during the Plenary Assembly to develop a document which seeks to illustrate the current meaning of the faith professed at Nicaea. “Such a document could be valuable, during the Jubilee Year, to nourish and deepen the faith of believers and, starting from the figure of Jesus, also offer useful perspectives and reflections for a new cultural and social paradigm, inspired precisely by the humanity of Christ» he declared. Essential reflections, in these times marked by conflicts and violence, which will allow “to sow seeds of hope wherever we live».

Develop a more ambitious theology of synodality

Francis then focused on the importance of developing a theology of synodality, recalling one of the wishes expressed in the Final Document of the synod: “The Assembly invites theological institutions to continue research aimed at clarifying and deepening the meaning of synodality» (n.67). The Holy Father invited theologians to “keep in mind the ecclesiological dimension”, and to “develop a theological reflection which helps, encourages and accompanies the synodal process, for a new missionary stage, more creative and daring, inspired by the kerygma and involving all the components of the Church».