Making the Bible a meaningful source of truth and salvation for contemporary man
Sacred Scripture contains the answers to the vital questions of the human being and the fundamental truths about his relationship with God, with others and with the world: how should it be presented to the sensibilities of contemporary man? If the Gospel is a proclamation of salvation, is it also attractive today while avoiding scandal and misunderstanding?
How do we bridge the gap, given that the understanding of this proclamation is necessarily mediated by a salvific history delivered to the people of Israel, a history whose hermeneutics is today difficult and no longer shared.
One wonders, for example, what role to attribute to an apparently violent image of God and what logic to assign to a ‘law of retribution’ that seems to operate also in history and not only in an eschatological key. Which biblical foundations and which historical-truthful contexts are to be preserved and which aspects, figures and modes of presentation are, instead, to be overcome? The Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ, the hermeneutic principle of the whole of Scripture, is certainly capable of intercepting every human being's demand for salvation, but its preaching must be constructed and contextualised in every age, beyond mere repetition.
The Research Group ‘University and Catholic Identity’ of the University of the Holy Cross organised an Expert Meeting on 26 and 27 September on the mission, purpose, and future of Catholic academic institutions. Experts in communication, governance and theologians from Europe, America, Latin America and Asia from 19 different universities and the FIUC (International Federation of Catholic Universities) discussed the two-day event.
The Research Group ‘University and Catholic Identity’ aims to create an international forum of experts and an interdisciplinary platform to explore key issues related to the culture and mission of Catholic universities.
From the team were presents: prof. rev. José María Díaz Dorronsoro, prof. Gema Bellido (both of them from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross), Charo Sádaba (University of Navarra, Spain) and Karen Sanders (St Mary's University, UK).
Footprints. Young people: Expectations, Ideals, Beliefs is a multi-annual (8 years) and multi-phase research project and is based on continuous listening to young people in order to try to better understand their values, expectations and hopes.
On 29 February 2024, the results of an international survey on youth, values and religion were presented, promoted by the Footprints Research Group. Young People: Expectations, Ideals, Beliefs of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, together with seven other universities around the world, with the support of the Spanish agency GAD3.
In order to measure the state of religiosityand faith among young people, the survey took place in November and December 2023 in eight countries: Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, the Philippines, Spain and the United Kingdom. The sample consisted of 4,889 young people between the ages of 18 and 29. Among the most relevant findings is the increase for spirituality among young people worldwide.
Other relevant data of the report:
1. On faith and the spiritual life of young people:
This increase in spirituality is strongly registered in countries such as Kenya, the Philippines and Brazil, where between 82% and 92% of young people id
entify themselves as 'believers'.
Looking at nations in the midst of secularisation, such as Spain and Italy, a deep conviction of faith emerges among respondents. Sixty per cent of young Spanish and Italian Catholics consider attending Mass as fundamental as receiving the Eucharist.
There are countries that are in an "intermediate" position in terms of the manifestation of faith by young people: Mexico (71%) and Argentina (51%).
There is a large percentage of women believers in countries like Kenya (93%), the Philippines (83%) and Brazil (81%), and in general the number of Catholic women is also higher globally (52%).
Regarding the view on the Church, most young believers consider it an institution that contributes to the good of society (76%).
2. On social problems:
An important segment of the sample denounces political corruption (94% among believers, 85% non-believers) and problems related to ecology (93% among believers, 85% non-believers).
The death penalty and the justification of war meet with equal opposition among Catholics and members of other religions and atheists.
There is also great convergence in opposing the legalisation of prostitution (70%).
3. On Young atheists
Among those in the sample who identify themselves as 'atheists', however, an interest in life after death and a proper understanding of suffering emerges; the percentages are highest for Kenya and the Philippines.
Also in these two countries, despite the fact that 70% of young people profess to be non-believers, they declare that they consider prayer to be an important aspect of their lives.
Footprints. Young People: Expectations, Ideals, Beliefs is an international and interdisciplinary research group of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, initiated in 2022, aimed at continuously listening to young people to better understand their values, expectations, and hopes through surveys and focus groups. The first phase of listening was dedicated to religion, faith, and values. Subsequent surveys on work and relationships are planned.
