Pope meets writers of Jesuit magazine 'Civiltà
Cattolica'
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| A hand-written note from Pope Francis to Jesuits of the 'Civilita Cattolica' magazine, currently making its 4000th edition - RV |
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met on Thursday with Jesuits
who write for the 'Civiltà Cattolicà' magazine, currently
celebrating its 4000th edition. Founded in 1850 and originally available only
in Italian, the publication is now adding editions in English, French, Spanish
and Korean.
As well as sending the writers a hand-signed note, the Pope
reflected at length on the importance of poetry, art and pioneering
intellectual research, as the magazine seeks to build bridges with many peoples
and cultures.
Your writing must not just defend Catholic ideas, but must
witness to Christ in the world with a restless, open-ended and imaginative
spirit. That’s was the Pope’s message to his Jesuit colleagues as he
encouraged the work of this “ancient and precious” publication, a copy of
which, he confided, “is often on my desk”.
Remain on open seas
Describing the Civiltà Cattolica’s long history
as a boat’s voyage on the open seas, the Pope told its current contributors
never to be afraid of the storms, but to proceed courageously, guided by the
Spirit, into uncharted waters.
He noted how the magazine has always had a particular link
to the popes of the past century and a half, starting with Pope Pius IX who
approved the original statutes in 1866. Since then, he said, the publication
has been the expression of a group of writers who share not only their
intellectual experiences, but also a charismatic inspiration and daily life
together in the community where they live.
Mission to the frontiers
All Jesuits, Pope Francis continued, are called to carry out
their mission on the frontiers and margins of society, in a spirit of dialogue
and discernment. Civiltà Cattolica, he said, can help build bridges
across those frontiers, with the new language editions serving to “broaden your
horizons” and enter into dialogue with people in different parts of the globe.
Restlessness
The Pope focused on the need for Catholic writers to be
restless, reminding them that Christian traditions are not rare treasures to be
locked away in a museum display case. In this restless spirit, he said, they
should draw inspiration from the French Jesuit St Peter Faber,
co-founder of the order and a pioneer of ecumenism in the 16th century.
Openness
The second quality he urged them to strive for was that of
openness in order to face the challenges of a world caught in a crisis of
mediocrity, relativism, rigidity and a throw-away culture. Only an open-minded
spirit, like that of the pioneering Italian Jesuit Matteo Ricci,
who helped bring Christianity to China, will be able to confront the complex
political, economic and humanitarian crises of our world, beginning with the
drama of global migration.
Imagination
Finally Pope Francis urged the writers to be imaginative,
like the versatile Jesuit painter and architect Andrea Pozzo.
Reflecting on the importance of poetry, painting and other art forms, the Pope
said the Church must rediscover its human genius, helping us to see that life
is not black and white, but rather a colour painting with subtle shading. Use
your imagination, he concluded, to remain flexible, with a sense of humour, a
merciful heart and an interior freedom.
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