Believing:
possible in today’s world?

April to June 2023   –   no 19   2023/2

The fact is that

a significant part

of humanity lives,

what can be 

described as, 

a dark night of God,

where God

seems to be absent

and is not seen or felt.

EDITORIAL

The God Show

Hubertus Blaumeiser

POPE FRANCIS

Seeking new approaches

From an April 2023 speech given by Pope Francis in Budapest, Hungary. In dealing with the challenges of our time, Francis warns against both the risks of rigidity, lack of acceptance and closure towards others, and a spiritual worldliness that lacks prophecy and discernment.

KLAUS HEMMERLE

A ‘Societal Icon” of the Gospel

In a 1991 writing, renowned theologian and bishop of Aachen, Klaus Hemmerle (1929-1994), reflected on the presuppositions for a renewed encounter between the Gospel and today’s world.

FRANCESCO COSENTINO

Is it still possible
to speak of God?

How do we speak about God in our western society when God has become almost ‘foreign’, even from people’s own self-awareness? Among those reflecting on this question is Canadian philosopher, Charles Taylor, author of A Secular Age (2007). Francesco Cosentino, professor of theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University and officer of the Vatican Secretariat of State, reflects on Taylor’s contribution.

SILVIA CATALDI

Where has God gone?

Dr Silvia Cataldi is Associate Professor of sociology at Sapienza University of Rome (Italy). Her research focuses on methodological aspects of social research and emerging cultural and social identity models, and she is involved in many European projects.

ENRIQUE CAMBÓN

Is this the ‘night’ of God?

Enrique Cambón has been a professor in several Latin American and European institutions, and an author of numerous publications, including an essay entitled, An absent God who disturbs and provokes (Effatà Ed. 2019).  We asked Cambón to speak to the central hypothesis of this work for our Ekklesia readers.

CHRISTIAN HENNECKE

Creating space for God
to pass by

“Transmitting the faith” is not, in the final analysis, a question of methods and content. Rather, it starts from a living experience of God’s presence through which a journey of discovery can begin. Such an experience cannot be manufactured. The author is currently a pastoral care coordinator in the Hildesheim (Germany) diocese.

CLAUDIO MAINO

Let us be surprised by young people

Claudio Maino is a priest from the diocese of Puglia, Italy, who works with youth and in seminary formation. He speaks here about his service and commitment to the new generations. One of his basic convictions?  Avoid a mentality of ‘community formation’ for youth. Rather, focus on the  community ‘allowing itself to be formed’ by its youth as well.

ADRIANA MASOTTI

The spiritual conversion

Adriana Masotti is a professional journalist, and is especially passionate about social issues. For many years she was chief editor for Vatican Radio’s evening news broadcast in Italian. She is now part of the editorial team of the Multimedia Editorial Centre of Vatican News.

IOAN SUACA

What future for the
Ecumenical Movement?

Rev. Professor Dr Ioan Sauca  was deputy general secretary of the WCC From 2014 to 2020 and later its acting general secretary from 2020 to late 2022. This  is an excerpt from a talk given in February 2023 at the University of Fribourg, in which he reflected on his years dedicated to the ecumenical journey.

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