Our editorial director reflects on Pope Francis’ letter, published on Thursday, which invites theologians to study the history of the Church in depth, to fully reveal the work of the Holy Spirit.
Andrea Tornelli, editorial director
Vatican City, Friday, November 22, 2024 (Vatican News): Saint Philip Neri is said to have told his friend Cesare Baronio, the founder of modern Catholic historiography: “At least once a month we teach our students the history of the Church”. . Come quickly, because now they don’t know and if they don’t know the history, in the end they won’t know the religion either.”
This emphasis on the study of history is more relevant than ever, as Pope Francis highlights in his letter published Thursday titled “Renewing the study of Church history.”
Like his August letter, which focused on the importance of literature, the Successor of Saint Peter speaks primarily to priests about their formation, but also highlights a topic that concerns all concerns.
Studying the history of the Church is a way to preserve memory and build the future, as well as the best way to interpret the reality that surrounds us.
Educating the younger generation to look beyond the past, resist oversimplified slogans and navigate the maze of millions of “news” topics – which are often false, biased or incomplete – is a mission in which we are all involved.
The words of Saint Philip Neri highlight the unique relationship between Christianity and history. The birth, death and resurrection of the Son of God is an event that has divided human history into “before” and “after.” Catholicism is not, above all, an idea, a philosophy or a morality; It is relationship, life, concrete and history.
We are Christians because a testimony has been transmitted from mother to son, from father to daughter, from grandparents to grandchildren. Going back in the series, we come to the first witnesses – the apostles – who shared the entire public life of Jesus every day.
This love of history, combined with the perspective of faith, allows us to examine even the least noble and darkest pages of the Church.
“Study without prejudice, because the Church does not need lies but only the truth,” said Pope Leo wrinkles” of the past.
In his letter, Pope Francis explains that “the history of the Church helps us to see the real Church and to love her as she really is, and for what she has learned and continues to learn from her mistakes and failures.”
Awareness of our darkest moments allows the Church to understand the “scars and wounds” of today’s world.
The Pope’s approach has nothing to do with any type of apologetic concern that seeks to present an ideal reality, while distancing itself from ideological tendencies that would present the Church as a cesspool of evil.
If the church can truly confront every aspect of its past, it is more likely to remain humble because it recognizes that humanity is saved by the Lord, not by priestly marketing strategies or the prominence of some fashionable person.
