The relevance of John Paul II’s thought is not limited to the period of his pontificate; it has much to say in considering contemporary problems that arise in the areas of faith, philosophy, culture, science, politics and a wide array of social issues. Therefore, it is not enough to examine the achievements of this great pontiff. We must also think with him about the most pressing issues of our day, including culture, solidarity, mercy, Christian art, justice, democracy, contemporary ideologies and movements, the place of the Church in the modern world, and the spiritual crisis facing Europe.
We need St. John Paul II not only as an object of research but also as a witness to Christ, as a thinker, artist, spiritual guide, an expert on (and critic of) modernity, an adviser, and, finally, a still-living source of ever-relevant inspiration
Dariusz Karłowicz
The collection of the lecture-based essays begins with a text titled “Why Does Christianity Need Culture?” by Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, the President of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Culture. The lecture was originally held on October 19, 2020, in the Angelicum’s Aula Magna (Aula Giovanni Paolo II) as the academic year’s inaugural event. Further topics include questions relating to fundamentals of ethics, role of faith in the public sphere, political theology, meaning of art in modern Christianity, historical and ideological contexts pertaining to the past and current status of Christian culture, thought and lifestyle, and other important subjects. The common demonination of all the lectures is their reference to the teachings of St. John Paul II.
Contributors to the volume include:
– Prof. John Finnis (Univeristy of Oxford [Emeritus])
– Archbishop Rowan Williams (University of Cambridge),
– Prof. Marek A. Cichocki (College of Europe in Natolin),
– Prof. John Cavadini (Notre Dame University),
– Prof. François Daguet OP (Catholic Institute of Toulouse),
– Prof. Chantal Delsol (University of Marne-le-Vallée),
– Prof. Rémi Brague (Sorbonne Univeristy),
– Prof. Renato Cristin (University of Trieste),
– Prof. Dariusz Gawin (Polish Academy of Sciences)
Foreword to the book by Dariusz Karłowicz can be found here.
You can purchase the book from:
– Amazon,
– Catholic University of America
