Pope Addresses University Professors at VI European Symposium
(07 Jun 08 - RV) Pope Benedict XVI today received the participants in the sixth European
Symposium of University Professors.
Robert White Reports…
The VI European
Symposium of University Professors this year gathered in Rome under the High Patronage
of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences and the President of the Italian Republic
for 4 days of sessions.
The theme of the latest symposium is, “Broadening the
horizons of Rationality: Perspectives for Philosophy”
In remarks to the more
than 300 participants gathered on Saturday in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic
Palace, Pope Benedict XVI recalled the basic commitment of Christian religion to human
reason, saying it is his deep and oft-repeated conviction that Christian faith made
a basic and irrevocable choice against the gods of pagan religion, and for the god
of the philosophers, which is to say, Christianity chooses the truth of being over
conventional myth.
encouraged the participants to promote high-profile academic
centres, at which philosophy can dialogue with other disciplines, in particular with
theology, so as to give direction to the development of society.
Up PBXVI down…
The
Holy Father went on to invite the gathered participants to encourage young people
to commit themselves to philosophical studies, saying he is certain that the new generations,
with their enthusiasm , will be able generously to respond to the expectations of
the Church and the larger society.