Courtney McGrailChristians must neither seek refuge in conservatism or fundamentalism as though everything was better in the past nor reject everything that seems old-fashioned thereby “relativising all the wisdom accumulated in our rich ecclesial heritage” according to Pope Francis.
Speaking by video message to participants in Buenos Aires at the Second International Congress of Theology, on the theme “Vatican II: memory, present and prospects”, the Pontiff said the path to overcoming these temptations “lies in reflection, discernment and taking both the ecclesiastical tradition and current reality very seriously, placing them in dialogue with one another”.
Encouraging them to work to overcome the false opposition that too easily develops between theology and pastoral ministry, he said theology can only truly be practised through “encouraging thought when praying and prayer when thinking”.