By The pontiff addressed members of the Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation on May 30.
Pope Leo XIV on May 30 emphasized to Catholic lay leaders that, in a world increasingly divided by war and polarization, shared humanity can help unify it.
During a private audience at the Vatican with the members of the Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation, Leo in his remarks referenced his recent encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, explaining that current challenges prompt fundamental questions about life.
“Indeed, it is precisely when faced with adverse circumstances that the human person is called to reconsider the fundamental questions that have gently prodded the heart of countless generations to more serious reflection: ‘Where are we going? Toward what goal do we wish to orient ourselves? What direction should we choose as a people and as a human community?'” Leo said.
These questions, the pope said, clearly indicate humanityʼs common pursuit of truth.
“Such questions are a clear manifestation of humanity’s search for truth, and give rise to a desire for something more, a thirst for God and lasting meaning,” Leo said in his remarks.
“They also bear witness to the essential aspects of our humanity: the God-given gifts of reason and freedom by which we may come to know the truth and adhere to what is good.”
Also referencing his predecessor, St. John Paul II, who founded the Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation in 1993 to promote Catholic social teaching, Leo explained that while the modern concept of freedom “is often understood as the capacity to do what one wants,” true freedom is lived “as a “gift of self and openness to others.”
He also referred to Saint Augustine in his address, using Augustineʼs concept of the two cities.
“The City of Man, built on pride and love of oneself, is marked by selfish individualism,” Leo said. “The City of God, built on love of God unto selflessness, and the cultivation of relationships, is what makes it truly possible to build a civilization of love.”
He also reminded those present not to despair at the current state of the world, but engage in “small and steadfast acts of fidelity that serve as a bulwark against dehumanization”.
If you value the news and views Catholic World Report provides, please consider donating to support our efforts. Your contribution will help us continue to make CWR available to all readers worldwide for free, without a subscription. Thank you for your generosity!
Click here for more information on donating to CWR. Click here to sign up for our newsletter.
Further unpacking the most welcome references to Augustinian theology, the three faculties of intellect, will and memory might offer ground for future dialogue with Islam, and within the Church, within the West, and within Islam.
Based on passages cited from the Qur’an, the Muslim “Common Word Between Us” (2007, the Muslim response to Benedict’s “Regensburg Lecture”) includes the remark that “souls are depicted in the Holy Qur’an [Q 3:64] as having three main faculties: the mind or the intelligence . . . the will . . . and sentiment which is made for loving the good and the beautiful. Put in another way, we could say that man’s soul knows through ‘understanding’ the truth, through ‘willing’ the good, and through virtuous emotions and ‘feeling’ love for God” (internal quotes are italics in the original).
While there is some overlap between St. Augustine and this recent Muslim statement on the faculties of intellect and will, the greatest divergence is between the naturalistic Muslim listing of love as a “sentiment” and a “feeling” love for God. In Christian theology, while supernatural grace perfects nature—charity (more than fraternity) is a theological virtue not limited to the feelings of natural religion (such as Islamic monotheism).
At some point the possibly false impression of syncretism is not sufficient in a fallen world where the Self-disclosed mystery of divine and redemptive love (“as I have loved you”) is real and ultimately sacrificial—beyond feeling. Not mere feeling nor belief, but Faith in the person of the incarnate Jesus Christ from within the Triune One.
Life is a pilgrimage, short and sweet. ‘Where are we going? Toward what goal do we wish to orient ourselves? What direction should we choose as a people and as a human community? – His Holiness Pope Leo XIV.
“At some point the possibly false impression of syncretism is not sufficient in a fallen world where the Self-disclosed mystery of divine and redemptive love (“as I have loved you”) is real and ultimately sacrificial—beyond feeling. Not mere feeling nor belief, but Faith in the person of the incarnate Jesus Christ from within the Triune One.”
No doubt, that would be the point at which one, in denying The Unity Of The Holy Ghost, and thus The Spirit Of Perfect Divine Eternal Infinite Love Between The Father And His Only Begotten Son Jesus The Christ, one exists in a state of apostasy.
An apostate counterfeit magisterium cannot subsist within Christ’s Magisterium, nor can an apostate papacy.
One cannot be in communion with Christ and His Body, while denying The Unity Of The Holy Ghost. Thus we can know through Faith and reason you can only have a Great Apostasy from The True Church of Christ, Christ’s One, Holy, Catholic, And Apostolic Church, In The Unity Of The Holy Ghost.
In your sovereign humility and near infinite wisdom and street smarts, perhaps you can specify in what exactly the Holy Spirit has revealed to you alone a formally “apostate papacy”?
Bearing in mind, of course, the 8th Commandment as delivered to the rest of us by the Triune One.
“In your sovereign humility and near infinite wisdom and street smarts, perhaps you can specify in what exactly the Holy Spirit has revealed to you alone a formally “apostate papacy.”
Certainly not to me alone for everyone who is aware that prior to his election to the Papacy, Jorge Bergoglio, condoned same sex sexual unions and thus same – sex sexual acts in direct violation of God’s Commandment regarding lust and the sin of adultery , ipso facto defected from The Catholic Church, while denying that God Is The Author of Love, of Life, and of Marriage, is certainly aware.
Peter, “Bearing in mind, of course, the 8th Commandment as delivered to the rest of us by the Triune One”, can you explain how it would be possible to condone same sex sexual unions and thus same-sex sexual acts and remain in communion with Christ And His One, Holy, Catholic, And Apostolic Church?
You ask an excellent question…but I am not here to defend ubiquitous stupidity. Regarding what Burgoglio said prior to becoming pope (and even his off-the-cuff remarks, insinuations and appointments, and photo-ops cleverly do not rise to the level of heresy)…
My observation at the time was that Bergoglio’s remark—yes, detestable—was made during a political campaign in Argentina. The question was not whether homosexual lifestyle was contrary to Christ, but whether in a world where marriages require both a Church marriage and a secular license, whether or not a “civil union” might be recognized by the civil power for civil legal reasons (e.g., inheritance).
The stupidity mentioned above was in being naive enough to think that civil unions were not a steppingstone to then dismantle “marriage” as understood from time immemorial. The provocateurs certainly lied openly about this, and many compassionate or pliable bishops and a future pope predictably sucked up to it. Seminaries do not teach “street smarts”.
A prominent lay theologian in the United States proposed that the Church should no longer recognize “marriages” as now redefined by the Secular Power. That proposal was too toxic and didn’t go anywhere, but it makes lots of sense in the large scheme of things. The great post-World War II German leader, Konrad Adenaur, stated the general problem this way: “It seems to me highly unfair that the Lord limited man’s intelligence while not also limiting his stupidity.” The stupidity of the U.S. Supreme Court fatwa to confuse real marriage and with government non-marriages highlights the depth into which we have fallen in a post-Christian world.
But, I ask you, what would happen if stupidity became the litmus test for whether one is self-expelled from communion with Christ and his One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church?”