“Therefore, I invite you to continue your work of historical research, opening horizons for dialogue, where you can bring the light of the hope of the Gospel, that hope that does not disappoint,” he added.
In his speech, he also reflected on the “vital” relationship between the Church and history, underlining the importance of the “humble and courageous testimony of the Gospel” to build “a civilization of encounter.” He warned against the “temptations of individualism” and “the ideological assertion of one’s own point of view,” urging historians to resist and live passionately through study and service to the unity “that the Holy Spirit shows us at Pentecost.” ”.
Finally, he recalled the words of Pope Paul VI, who pointed out that the Church stands in the middle between Christ and the human community, calling on historians to align their work with the search and affirmation of historical truth.