Pope Francis: There are things that only women understand and theology needs them

Pope Francis has pointed out in an audience to the participants in a congress promoted by the Dicastery for Culture and Education that “there are things that only women understand and theology needs their contribution.”

The Pontiff also stressed that “an exclusively masculine theology is a half-baked theology” and that there is still a long way to go in that sense.

This was expressed in the Vatican Apostolic Palace on the occasion of the International Congress on the Future of Theology that is organized in Rome under the motto Legacy and imagination at the beginning of this week.

In his address, Pope Francis compared theology to the light that makes “things appear but without being exhibited,” since it carries out “a humble and hidden work so that the light of Christ and his Gospel emerges.”

In this sense, he gave advice to each of the theologians present: “Seek grace and remain in the grace of friendship with Christ, the true light who came into this world. All theology is born from friendship with Christ and love for his brothers.”

Pope Francis also articulated his intervention around a wish and an invitation that he conveyed to those present.

Heal the own simplification of ideologies

The desire is that “theology helps to rethink thinking,” since it shapes the way we think, feelings, will, and decision-making.

Thus, he asked to “cure the simplification” typical of ideologies that “flatten everything,” in the face of a reality that is complex. “When one cannot or does not want to face the drama of this complexity, one easily tends toward simplification,” the Pontiff stressed.

Citing the Apostolic Constitution The joy of truth which he promulgated in 2018, Pope Francis recalled that the antidote to simplification is “interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity, which allow “the form of theological thought to ferment together with that of other knowledge” because they are like the senses of the body: each “One has its specificity, but they need each other.”

“By helping to rethink thought, theology will once again shine as it deserves, in the Church and in cultures, helping each and every one in the search for truth,” concluded the Pontiff.

Making theology accessible

Pope Francis finally invited “theology to be accessible to all,” especially because “there is an interest among adults to resume their own training, including academic ones. “Men and women, especially middle-aged, perhaps already graduated, want to deepen their faith.”

The Pontiff explained that this is a “growing phenomenon” that he related to the fact that in maturity, beyond generally achieving a certain security and emotional solidity, “failures are felt more painfully and new questions arise as a result.” as the dreams of youth crumble.”

In that circumstance, he added, “a feeling of abandonment can be felt and, sometimes, the soul becomes blocked. And then the need is felt to resume the search, perhaps timidly, perhaps led by the hand. And theology is this traveling companion!”

Thus, Pope Francis encouraged those who seek to “find in theology an open house, a place where they can resume their journey, where they can search, find and search again” and urged theologians to imagine “new things in the study plans.” so that theology is accessible to all.”