Vatican's culture council launches new world forum for evangelization
(January 26, 2011) Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Culture is launching an international
forum to promote dialogue between Catholics and non-believers. The new Vatican network
and forum, called the "Courtyard of the Gentiles," will be inaugurated in the French
capital Paris on March 25. A press release from the council on Tuesday said events
will span two days and include lectures, a roundtable discussion and an outdoor party
in front of the Cathedral of Notre Dame. The lectures will center on the theme "Religion,
Enlightenment and Common Reason," and will be held at UNESCO headquarters, the Sorbonne
University and the French Institute. The roundtable discussion will be held at the
College des Bernardins. Music, art, theater and a light show will be included
in the evening celebration, called "Into the Courtyard of the Unknown," in front of
the Paris cathedral March 25. A prayer vigil and moment for reflection will be held
inside the cathedral,, the council said. In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI proposed the
creation of a "Courtyard of the Gentiles" project, which would use debates, meetings
and theater to bring people of the Catholic faith and of no faith together to promote
dialogue and friendship.