The Faculty of Theology of the Pontifical Gregorian University, in collaboration with the General Secretariat of the Synod, has taken up the call addressed to the whole Church summoned to the Synod by proposing an International Congress on “Theology Responding to the Challenge of Synodality” (27-29 April 2023).

• Registration is open until 12 am of 26 April 2023, via online form (HERE).
• Registration is free for students and professors of the Pontifical Gregorian University.
• Please look up the Programme of the International Conference (HERE). 
   

The Conference will gather different experiences and visions on synodality that come from the synodal processes in the five continents and will examine the characteristics of a theology articulating its vocation to synodality. It aims to identify paths for a renewed theology in order to lay the foundations for the implementation of a synodal method in theology.

“Actually, ‘synodality’ and ‘theology’ have a great deal in common,” observes Fr Philipp G. Renczes SJ, Dean of the Faculty of Theology at the Gregorian. “Both are caught in an inherent tension between their fundamental goal of proclaiming Jesus Christ in today’s Church in a language that is engaging and up-to-date, and the temptation to fill in the broad and theoretical nature of both terms with ideas that are not always clear.”

“That is why,” Fr Renczes continues, “it is important that theology and synodality meet, listen to each other and enter into direct dialogue, as the synodal process, by the way, requires of all of us. Because both can learn a lot from each other. This is what this Congress, especially in its truly global orientation, wants to achieve”.

The Conference Programme has divided the three days thematically into “Visions and Experiences” (April 27, with papers by Card. Mario Grech, C. Theobald, A.-B. Faye, A. Reception. R. Luciani, T. Söding, P.A. Comensoli, M. Eckholt, M. Graulich), “The Call for Theology to Be Synodal” (April 28, with papers by M. Wijlens, O. Rush, R. Repole, C. Hovorun, A. Fumagalli, R. Polak), and “The Search for a Synodal Method in Theology” (April 29, with papers by M. Seewald, P. Coda, D. Vitali, A. Birmelé, R.S. Rosenberg).

In the spirit of the Synod, the Scientific Committee of the Conference has wished to enlarge the space for sharing to include more participants, in addition to the speakers mentioned, through a Call for Papers that received wide and high quality participation. Some papers will be presented during the Congress itself.

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE

Rev. Don Riccardo Battocchio
Rev. Sr. Nathalie Becquart, XMCJ 
Rev. Don Giuseppe Bonfrate
Rev. Fr Adelson Araújo dos Santos, SJ 
Rev. Fr James Hanvey, SJ
Dr Alberta M. Putti
Rev. Fr Philipp G. Renczes, SJ
Rev. Don Dario Vitali

Accreditation Procedure

Journalists and media operators who wish to participate must apply, no less than 24 hours before the event, through the Holy See Press Office online accreditation System available, or at  press.vatican.va/accreditamenti.

For interviews and technical information on the event, please contact: [email protected]