Cardinal Michael Czerny reflects on the life and witness of Venerable François-Xavier Nguyễn Văn Thuận, whose faith sustained his commitment to justice, peace and reconciliation through imprisonment and service, and helped shape the Church’s modern social teaching.
Study Group 3 of the Synod on Synodality reflects on the Church’s mission in digital culture, highlighting opportunities for encounter, inclusion, and evangelization while also addressing risks such as polarization, isolation, and manipulation.
Digital culture is not simply a collection of technological tools but a genuine human and missionary environment. Mgr. Lucio Adrián Ruiz explains how the Church can accompany people online, form digital missionaries and make the Internet a place of encounter, listening and hope.
Paolo Ruffini reflects on Christian communication in the age of artificial intelligence, calling us to preserve human relationships, freedom and truth while actively shaping technological change so that communication remains rooted in communion, authentic encounter and witness to the Gospel.
focus | Church thinking International Theology Commission Thinking through Christian anthropology in the age of AI and posthumanism “In the face of unprecedented technological acceleration,
Hubertus Blaumeiser introduces an Ekklesía issue exploring artificial intelligence from an anthropological, educational and pastoral perspective, alongside a special feature on Cardinal François-Xavier Nguyễn Văn Thuận, whose witness of hope remains strikingly relevant fifty years after The Road of Hope.
Today’s Time and Spaces explores how the Church is responding to the social, religious and spiritual challenges identified by the Synod, fostering communities of welcome, belonging and mission in an increasingly secular, mobile and digitally connected world.
María Lía Zervino reflects on Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic letter A Fidelity That Generates the Future, highlighting priestly joy, fraternity, synodality and the shared responsibility of all the baptized in renewing ordained ministry for today’s Church.
Through the life of missionary bishop Dom Mario Pasqualotto, Piero Facci recounts a vocation rooted in putting God first, lived through communion, missionary service and a preferential love for those on society’s margins, especially vulnerable young people.
focus | best practice A parish at Rome’s Fiumicono Airport Lives in Transit Giovanni Soccorsi The parish at Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino (Rome)
Luigino Bruni draws on the Gospel image of new wine and new wineskins to show how communities and charisms remain alive only through continual renewal, discovering fresh forms of living their original inspiration while remaining faithful to their founding spirit.
Drawing on his pastoral experience in Brasília, Fr Edilson Santos shows how synodality transforms parish life through listening, shared responsibility and lay participation, enabling priests and communities to journey together in communion, trust and mission.
In an age of growing secularization, Manuel María Bru Alonso proposes that the future of evangelization lies not in larger institutions but in creative, welcoming communities that embody communion, synodality and missionary witness through relationships, prayer and service.
Drawing on the Jubilee of Synodal Teams and Participatory Bodies, Pope Leo XIV reflects on the Church as a community of communion, service and shared discernment, calling Christians to reject individualism and walk together as witnesses of unity and love.
Drawing on an accompaniment initiative within the Focolare Movement, Ansgar Bock and Gabriele Müller show how tensions and conflicts, when addressed with trust, honesty and mutual listening, can become opportunities for growth, deeper communion and renewed community life.
The Synod on Synodality places ecumenism at the heart of the Church’s journey. Drawing on the Final Document, this reflection explores how synodality, dialogue and shared discernment open new paths toward Christian unity, inviting all the faithful to walk together in communion, mission and hope.
Maria Lubrano Scotto, psicologa esperta in famiglia e affettività, esplora l’importanza di armonizzare le differenze tra uomini e donne. Attraverso esperienze personali e riflessioni profonde, ci invita a riconoscere il contributo unico di ciascuno nella vita di coppia. Scopri come la sensibilità femminile e la forza maschile possano coesistere, creando relazioni più ricche e significative. In un mondo in cui i ruoli tradizionali sono in evoluzione, la ricerca di una nuova reciprocità diventa fondamentale. Unisciti a noi in questo viaggio di scoperta e crescita, dove il conflitto lascia spazio alla valorizzazione dell’altro.
Beyond gender stereotypes Towards a difference that gives life Marta Rodríguez The author is coordinator of the academic and research area of the Institute of
Men and Women: Together April to June 2025 – Issue no 27 – 2025/2 Open Sea EDITORIAL HUBERTUS BLAUMEISER Open Sea EDITORIAL HUBERTUS BLAUMEISER thought
focus | insights Migration: Insights from a sociologist All on a journey together William A Calvo-Quirós Discussing the phenomenon of migration requires an in-depth analysis—not
editorial Everyone is invited to migrate Hubertus Blaumeiser This issue of Ekklesía is being published at a time when the topic of migrants is even
focus | best practices The abuse crisis and abandonment of the Church Matthias Hembrock Openness to those who have left Taken from his 2024 Lenten
focus | editorial Hubertus Blaumeiser Method and Mysticism Mysticism and method: two dimensions that should not be separated but also not confused, as the Christological
focus | spirituality of unity Maria Do Sameiro Freitas Synodality as a lifestyle The Evangelii Gaudium Center An outline of a course on synodality organized
EKKLESIA ONLINEAMORIS LAETITIA: THE WAY AHEAD Editorial I will not leave you orphans Hubertus Blaumeiser One aspect which increasingly characterises our western societies, and
EDITORIAL – Co-protagonists of hope POPE FRANCIS – Through our weakness CHIARA LUBICH – Caring across vast horizons AMEDEO FERRARI & MAURO MANTOVANI – Towards
EDITORIAL – Entering a new continent POPE FRANCIS – All in the same boat CHIARA LUBICH – An impossibility for millions of isolated souls EGIDIO
The Church Among the People reflects on the Church’s vocation to be present in the midst of humanity, sharing its joys, struggles and hopes. Through theological insights and pastoral experiences from diverse contexts, the contributors explore mission, synodality, community and service, presenting a Church that listens, accompanies and witnesses to the Gospel by walking alongside the people it serves.
Sharing the Gospel Story Today explores how the Gospel can be proclaimed authentically in today’s world through witness, dialogue and lived experience. Bringing together biblical, theological and pastoral reflections, the contributors show that evangelisation is rooted in encounter, communion and everyday life, inviting Christians to communicate the joy of the Gospel with creativity, hope and love.
Facing the Wound explores how personal, social and ecclesial wounds can become places of healing, reconciliation and renewed hope. Through biblical, theological and pastoral reflections, the contributors examine suffering, forgiveness, accompaniment and God’s healing presence, showing how woundedness—when embraced with faith and love—can open the way to communion, transformation and new life.
Journeying with young people towards Christ focus | insights Educational challenges in the YouTube era Generation Z Maria Rosa Legozzo The Generation Z youth of
Vincenzo Zani reflects on the importance of creating welcoming spaces where young people can grow in faith, education and human development. He highlights listening, dialogue and community as essential for nurturing hope, vocation and authentic Christian discipleship.
Alessandra Smerilli reflects on the Church’s call to welcome, accompany and empower young people. She presents an open and inclusive Church that listens with compassion, encourages participation and helps young people discover their vocation and place in the Christian community.
EDITORIAL – Education: a global commitment CHIARA LUBICH – An endless desireBISHOP KLAUS HEMMERLE – Finding their pathALESSANDRA SMERILLI FMA – A Church with doors
A people journeying together focus | formation An Evangelii Gaudium Center project Formation of Pastoral Staff by the editors There was a joy-filled atmosphere at the
Paolo Siniscalo traces the laity’s evolving role across Church history — from early Christian communities to Vatican II and today — revealing how lay men and women have always been vital witnesses, builders of society, and protagonists of the Gospel.
A people journeying together focus | thought of the Church Together, as the holy People of God Pope Francis Included here are two recent texts
A people journeying together editorial A Synodal Approach: Concretizing Communion Carlos García Andrade cmf In the wake of biblical and patristic renewal, Vatican II marked
EDITORIAL – A Synodal Approach: Concretizing Communion POPE FRANCIS – Together, as the holy People of God CHIARA LUBICH – The True Face of
focus | insights Rediscovering a long forgotten principle Mission: universal fraternity A brief interview with Italian ethicist Antonio Maria Baggio Referring back to a comprehensive article
Drawing on his Message for the World Day of Peace, Pope Francis presents fraternity as the essential path to justice, solidarity and lasting peace. He calls humanity to overcome indifference and recognise every person as a brother or sister.
focus | best practices Our true being as a person is found only through our relationships with others Men and women: covenant partners Marta Rodríguez
Towards a Mysticism of the “We” explores the spirituality of communion as the heart of Christian life. Drawing on Scripture, theology and lived experience, the articles examine how relationships rooted in God’s presence transform individuals, communities and society. Inspired by Pope Francis, Chiara Lubich and contemporary theologians, the issue presents the “mysticism of the we” as a path towards synodality, friendship, unity and mission in today’s world.
focus | thought of the Church Selected texts Mysticism of encounter Pope Francis While perhaps not the first to speak of a spirituality of ‘the
focus | insights A reflection in the light of Evangelii Gaudium Charisms and consecrated life today Fabio Ciardi In the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, we find
Drawing on the African experience of Small Christian Communities, Innocent Thibault Ndoreraho presents the Church as a family rooted in communion, participation and mission, showing how local communities foster faith, mutual care, evangelization and a synodal style of Christian life.
Andrew Recepción explores the Holy Spirit as the driving force of the Church’s synodal journey, inspiring communion, discernment and missionary renewal. Rooted in Scripture and lived experience, the article shows how the Spirit continually guides Christian communities towards unity, participation and faithful witness.
The nearer moon, hurtling suddenly above the horizon and lighting up the Barsoomian scene, showed me that my preserver was Woola.
It did so indeed, and much sooner than she had expected
So he got out of the fury of the panic, and, skirting the Edgware Road, reached Edgware about seven, fasting and wearied, but well ahead of the crowd.
I believe I have broken a finger here against his cursed jaw ain’t those mincing knives down in the forecastle there, men
I believe I have broken a finger here against his cursed jaw ain’t those mincing knives down in the forecastle there, men?