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Continuity and Discontinuity: From Pope John Paul II to Pope Francis and Beyond

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A special issue of Religions (ISSN 2077-1444).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (29 December 2024) | Viewed by 12775

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Prof. Dr. Lóránd UJHÁZI

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Guest Editor

Research Institute for Religion and Society, Ludovika University of Public Service, 1083 Budapest, Hungary
Interests: canon law; Social teaching of the Catholic Church; religion and security; radicalism and religious extremism; religion and society

Prof. Dr. András MÁTÉ-TÓTH

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Guest Editor

Department of Religious Studies, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Szeged, 6722 Szeged, Hungary
Interests: civil religiosity; secularisation in Central-Eastern Europe; religious communication; religious pluralism

Dr. Abdessamad BELHAJ

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Guest Editor

Research Institute for Religion and Society, Ludovika University of Public Service, 1083 Budapest, Hungary
Interests: Islam and society; Islam and politics; the ethics of Islam; Muslim political philosophy; sociology of religion

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This year marks 15 years since Pope Benedict XVI published his encyclical Caritas in Veritate on 29 June 2009. The encyclical was written at a time when societies around the world were contending with disruption caused by the global economic crisis. Today, our environment is characterised by economic recession after the pandemic, in addition to escalating war conflicts. Given this, it seems that Pope Benedict XVI's encyclical is more relevant than ever. At the same time, this encyclical is closely aligned with centuries of social teaching of the Catholic Church and can, therefore, be seen in a broader context.

Pope Benedict XVI's encyclical addresses current topics such as ecology, the international economy, and the environmental challenges of war. Therefore, this anniversary provides a unique and exciting opportunity for intellectual exploration and discovery by examining the teachings of recent popes, from Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI to Pope Francis, with a focus on continuity and discontinuity rather than the often-simplistic approach of the media. In doing this, we can trace the evolution of the most sensitive issues in Catholic social teaching.

For this reason, we present this Special Issue of the prestigious international journal Religions, entitled ‘Continuity and Discontinuity: From Pope John Paul II to Pope Francis and Beyond’.

We welcome contributions that focus on the statements and social activities of the Catholic Church at different levels. Additionally, we seek to examine the breaking lines within the Catholic Church, with a particular focus on the economy, environmental issues, green politics, gender issues, globalisation, security issues, and international relations. We especially encourage critical approaches from the perspective of different religions as well.

We request that, prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 200–300 words summarizing their intended contribution. Please send it to the Guest Editor or to the Assistant Editor of Religions. Abstracts will be reviewed by the Guest Editors for the purposes of ensuring their proper fit within the scope of this Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Lóránd UJHÁZI
Prof. Dr. András MÁTÉ-TÓTH
Dr. Abdessamad BELHAJ
Guest Editors

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Religions is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

economy
environmental issues
green policies
gender issues
creation protection
interfaith dialogue
security perspec-tive
globalisation
global and regional stability
nuclear weaponisation
international relations

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Published Papers (12 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 258 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Irrevocable Gifts and the Calling of God: Continuity and Discontinuity in Jewish–Christian Dialogue

by Szabolcs Nagypál and Krisztián Fenyves

Religions 2025, 16(4), 401; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16040401 - 21 Mar 2025

Viewed by 356

Abstract

This article explores the evolution of Jewish–Christian dialogue in the Roman Catholic Church, focusing on the theological and pastoral contributions of three post-Vatican II Popes—John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis. Beginning with the transformative Nostra Ætate declaration of the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965), this study examines how each Pope uniquely advanced Jewish–Christian relations through doctrinal development, symbolic gestures, and interreligious dialogue. John Paul II’s performative theology emphasized reconciliation and outreach, significantly enhancing Jewish–Christian relations through groundbreaking gestures and public declarations. Benedict XVI sought to deepen the theological foundations of Jewish–Christian dialogue, integrating it into broader Roman Catholic theology while navigating challenges of reception due to his intellectual style. Francis emphasized relational warmth, shared ethical commitments, and a theology of reconciliation, fostering a more inclusive and dialogical approach to interreligious engagement. By analysing the continuities and discontinuities in the approaches of these three Popes, this article highlights the dynamic interplay between theology, symbolism, and pastoral care in advancing Jewish–Christian relations, offering a comprehensive overview of a pivotal era in interreligious dialogue. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Continuity and Discontinuity: From Pope John Paul II to Pope Francis and Beyond)

19 pages, 269 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Aligned in Human Dignity? Parallel Anthropological Aspects of EU Tech Regulation and Pope Francis’ Teaching on AI

by Bernát Török and Ádám Darabos

Religions 2025, 16(3), 312; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16030312 - 28 Feb 2025

Viewed by 706

Abstract

The latest technological advancements, above all artificial intelligence, are raising pressing questions regarding the relationship between machines and humans. Not only have previously known challenges arisen in the new context of digital technological achievements, but machines have now penetrated into spheres of human existence where they were not present until now. In addition to other ethical problems, there are therefore fundamental anthropological questions needing answers, which would clarify the role of the latest digital technologies in the context of our individual and social lives, and define the boundaries of the inviolable human spheres. In this study, we compare responses to these challenges from two important sources. First, we will review how the use of artificial intelligence and the anthropological challenges it poses appear in the teaching of Pope Francis, in line with the Catholic Church’s wider teaching on technology. Second, we examine how this problem is treated in the legislation of the European Union, which is a leader in the regulation of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence. We will highlight four concrete challenges posed by artificial intelligence to the human person (profiling, predictive algorithms, human intervention and manipulation), to which the legislation of the European Union has responded partly on anthropological grounds. We will argue that a systematic analysis of the relevant EU regulations on digital technologies (the General Data Protection Regulation, the Digital Services Act, and the Artificial Intelligence Act) can shed light on new aspects of the legal concept of human dignity, which—even without religious justifications—clearly mirror significant elements of Christian anthropology that are present in Pope Francis’ teaching on artificial intelligence. The anthropological approach of the European legislation is remarkable from a comparative perspective, since other globally relevant regulators have not yet taken such a position and seem to prioritize practical advantages, especially effectivity in the context of new technologies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Continuity and Discontinuity: From Pope John Paul II to Pope Francis and Beyond)

12 pages, 214 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Idea of Europe in the Work of Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis

by André P. DeBattista

Religions 2025, 16(3), 300; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16030300 - 27 Feb 2025

Viewed by 638

Abstract

The papacies of Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis coincided with a period of conflict and change in Europe. In the post-war period, Europe was still divided along ideological lines, with much of it having experienced invasion, occupation, and totalitarianism. Both John Paul II (1920–2005) and Benedict XVI (1927–2022) experienced the excesses of totalitarianism, profoundly affecting their outlook. Their papacies also coincided with a formative period in the post-war era: the end of the Cold War, the emergence of a new European order, and the disenchantment with that same order. Though not hailing from Europe, Pope Francis (1936–) has been an equally vital contributor to the conversation of the “idea of Europe”. This paper proposes to identify how the idea of Europe features in the work of these three popes and whether there are elements of continuity and dissonance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Continuity and Discontinuity: From Pope John Paul II to Pope Francis and Beyond)

20 pages, 343 KiB

Open AccessArticle

From the Labor Question to the Murderous Economy: Catholic Approach to Economic Policy

by Lóránd Ujházi and András Jancsó

Religions 2025, 16(2), 248; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16020248 - 17 Feb 2025

Viewed by 728

Abstract

From his election, it was clear that Pope Francis advocated for the poor and the protection of creation. However, both areas are linked to ethical aspects of the economy. This paper demonstrates that although new aspects of Catholic economic ethics emerged with Pope Francis, they show a continuity with the Church’s social doctrine. Pope Francis is under fire from two directions. He is under attack from both economically minded conservatives and liberals. This paradox is interesting since these areas indicate Pope Francis’ teaching is partly static and dynamic. It is here that the dichotomy of continuity and progression is most visible. The Catholic Church theologically reflected on economics and then gradually in a transdisciplinary perspective. In this paper, we examine both methodologically and substantively the static elements of the Church’s teaching on the economy. We point to the slow but firm critical articulation of the Church’s opposition to the ethics of the capitalist economy. A qualitative method was used for the research, so primary and secondary Church documents and the theological and economic literature were applied. These were compared, opinions were contrasted, and a conclusion was drawn to justify the hypothesis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Continuity and Discontinuity: From Pope John Paul II to Pope Francis and Beyond)

12 pages, 218 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Resilience in Pontifical Doctrines: From Pope Benedict XVI to Pope Francis

by Rita Figus-Illinyi

Religions 2025, 16(2), 219; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16020219 - 12 Feb 2025

Viewed by 832

Abstract

This study explores the concept of resilience within the teachings of Popes Benedict XVI and Francis, comparing these with established psychological resilience theories by Ungar and Holling. Through a comprehensive analysis of documents sourced from the Vatican’s official website, resilience is examined across individual, community, and global dimensions. Individual resilience emphasizes spiritual resources such as faith and hope, which Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis underscore as essential for overcoming personal and societal crises. Community resilience is highlighted in the context of solidarity, cooperation, and cultural identity, as demonstrated in responses to natural disasters and sociopolitical challenges. At a global level, Pope Francis advocates ecological sustainability and systemic justice, tying resilience to shared responsibilities and global solidarity. Methods include textual frequency analysis and semantic mapping of resilience-related terms within papal documents, complemented by a comparative analysis with psychological resilience frameworks. Findings reveal unique contributions of papal teachings, such as the integration of spiritual, moral, and ecological dimensions, which expand traditional resilience concepts. This theological lens adds normative and prescriptive elements, offering transformative perspectives for resilience studies, emphasizing faith, values, and sustainability as pivotal components for enduring and thriving amidst adversity. Limitations of data mining methods suggest potential for further interdisciplinary research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Continuity and Discontinuity: From Pope John Paul II to Pope Francis and Beyond)

9 pages, 192 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Early Intuitions on Joseph Ratzinger’s Idea of a Catholic University of the Future

by Pietro Luca Azzaro

Religions 2025, 16(2), 213; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16020213 - 10 Feb 2025

Viewed by 567

Abstract

This paper examines Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI’s reflections on knowledge and universities over sixty-five years, focusing on the constant features in his thought by analyzing his first and last pronouncements on these topics. Rather than summarizing all his writings, the author provides a comparative analysis of Ratzinger’s early address in 1959 as a newly appointed professor at the University of Bonn and his later speeches as Pope. In the 1959 lecture, Ratzinger talked about the challenge of modern secularism, emphasizing an increasing split between faith and reason and the growth of “neo-paganism” within the Church, while also highlighting the implication of technological globalization that was going to reshape the role of Christian universities in the modern world. The paper further develops how Ratzinger’s concerns evolved, particularly his critique of the rupture between faith and reason and the secularization of the Church, up to his reflections in 2022 on how Christian universities must maintain a connection with faith and reason. Drawing on Ratzinger’s lifelong exploration of these issues, this paper points out three constant features of his thought: the imperative of the integration of faith and reason at universities, “creative minorities” as an imperative internally, both in the Church and at the level of academia; and the specific chance given by contemporary secularization to Christian universities for a renewal of their educational mission. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Continuity and Discontinuity: From Pope John Paul II to Pope Francis and Beyond)

13 pages, 224 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Doctrinal and Practical Continuity: Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis on the Ecological Crisis

by Tibor Görföl

Religions 2025, 16(2), 206; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16020206 - 8 Feb 2025

Viewed by 626

Abstract

The question of a possible discontinuity between the papacies of Benedict XVI and Francis are broadly discussed in the Catholic public square, as well as in the literature. This paper aims at demonstrating the continuity of the two papal magisteria in a special area, the assessment of the ecological crisis. While Benedict XVI approached the issue from a theological and theoretical point of view, he was not indifferent to the practical consequences, which were then highlighted in a sometimes harsh and passionate manner by Francis. I argue that Francis’ alarmist claims about the ecological situation are partly based on the theological imagination of Benedict XVI (while, of course, having other sources, as well). Continuity between the two Popes can also be observed in their relation to Orthodox ecological thought, a relation deserving careful attention. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Continuity and Discontinuity: From Pope John Paul II to Pope Francis and Beyond)

14 pages, 269 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Logos and Garden: Joseph Ratzinger—Benedict XVI on Eco-Theology

by Aidan Nichols

Religions 2025, 16(2), 205; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16020205 - 8 Feb 2025

Viewed by 609

Abstract

The Logos has made a Garden. That short sentence might sum up the ‘eco-theology’ (or, as some would have it, theo-ecology) of Joseph Ratzinger—Benedict XVI. It is ripe for unpacking, by considering not only his general approach to the God–world relation (always presupposed as this is in his comments on environmental issues) but also how his theological insights into the created realm, understood as humanity’s common home (oikos), might now be taken further in the great pope’s footsteps, drawing on the doctrinal and hagiographical traditions of the Church. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Continuity and Discontinuity: From Pope John Paul II to Pope Francis and Beyond)

13 pages, 230 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The New Moral Absolutism in Catholic Moral Teaching: A Critique Based on Veritatis Splendor

by Károly Mike

Religions 2025, 16(2), 149; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16020149 - 28 Jan 2025

Viewed by 1184

Abstract

This paper examines a recent shift in Catholic moral teaching, characterized by the emergence of a ‘new moral absolutism’, in which certain acts traditionally subject to prudential judgment—such as the death penalty, ecological harm, and restrictive migration policies—are increasingly portrayed as universally and gravely wrong in our age. Simultaneously, traditional moral absolutes, especially in sexual and life ethics, have experienced cautious relativization. Drawing on the framework of Veritatis Splendor (1993), the paper critiques the approach of this new moral absolutism, arguing that it undermines the proper role of individual conscience and situational discernment while failing to provide coherent guidance on complex moral dilemmas. It links its emergence to proportionalist ethics: when traditional moral absolutes are relativized, new types of wrongs take their place. The paper proposes a return to the principles of Veritatis Splendor, advocating for a nuanced approach that preserves the constant and limited set of absolute negative norms and encourages the formation and use of conscience for all other matters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Continuity and Discontinuity: From Pope John Paul II to Pope Francis and Beyond)

12 pages, 215 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Social Sins, Structural Virtues, and the Educational Challenge: Reflections on Caritas in Veritate and Laudato Si’

by András Máté-Tóth and George Joseph Vellankal

Religions 2025, 16(2), 136; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16020136 - 24 Jan 2025

Viewed by 866

Abstract

The aim of this article is to reflect on the nature of the structural sins in the present times and to offer light on the structural virtues that are in urgent demand for sustainable development of persons and peoples. Our analysis begins in Benedict XVI’s Caritas in Veritate. In the encyclical, the pope analyses oversimplification of the human reality by ideologies. The simultaneity of moral underdevelopment and a consumeristic super-development, epistemological gulf between faith and reason, erosion of social capital with the shifting of religion to the private sphere, and the collapse of the human ecology beneath the deterioration of environmental ecology are some of the social sins that Benedict XVI points out in the encyclical. Towards the end of the first section, we attempt to show how Benedict XVI understands that these social sins are also the sins of persons and how the personal is derived into the social. In the second section, we try to develop on the proposals for the structural virtues in Laudato Si’. The starting point is Pope Francis’ vision of integral ecology, which is in continuity with Benedict XVI’s finding that human ecology and environmental ecology are interconnected. After a brief analysis of Pope Francis’ thoughts about the current situation of epistemology, we try to understand the dimensions of the common good, law, and personalism in Laudato Si’, from which we can derive threads for the structural virtues. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Continuity and Discontinuity: From Pope John Paul II to Pope Francis and Beyond)

9 pages, 212 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Religion, Culture, and Peace: The Social Doctrine of Benedict XVI

by Roberto Regoli

Religions 2025, 16(2), 126; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16020126 - 24 Jan 2025

Viewed by 1007

Abstract

This article situates the papacy of Benedict XVI at the crossroads of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, focusing on theological, cultural, and political developments. It brings out his subtle critique of modernity, his opposition to relativism, and his appeal for a renewed dialogue between Christianity and Enlightenment rationality. It is his sense of faith and reason that, in mutual purifying, forms his support of the public role of religion in peacemaking and moral order. Through moments like the Regensburg Address and his inter-religious dialogues, Benedict XVI emerges as a defender of the place of religion in society while rejecting both religious fundamentalism and secularist reductionism. The paper also examines how Benedict grounded human rights in natural law, thereby differentiating those from other fundamental rights emanating from more contemporary sociopolitical claims. The article places his papacy within the larger frame of Catholic social doctrine, focusing on the role of the Church in promoting peace through cultural and interreligious dialogue, particularly with Islam. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Continuity and Discontinuity: From Pope John Paul II to Pope Francis and Beyond)

15 pages, 465 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pope Francis, Islam, and the Ethics of Recognition: Openings and Muslim Responses

by Abdessamad Belhaj

Religions 2024, 15(12), 1547; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15121547 - 19 Dec 2024

Viewed by 3023

Abstract

Through his numerous visits to the Muslim world, and by promoting an ethics of recognition of Islam, Pope Francis built trust and a religious encounter with various Muslim institutions. His dedication to global ethical concerns, such as human brotherhood, the environment, migration, and peace, has made religious leaders throughout the Middle East, particularly in Iraq, Egypt, and the Gulf states, favourable to interfaith co-operation with the Catholic Church for the common good. In particular, Pope Francis has influenced how justice and tolerance are perceived by many in the Muslim world, as evidenced by various Muslim responses to his messages. He was therefore effective in initiating an ethical encounter to overcome injustice and violence, in addition to re-establishing religious diplomacy and communication with Islam. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Continuity and Discontinuity: From Pope John Paul II to Pope Francis and Beyond)

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Continuity and Discontinuity: From Pope John Paul II to Pope Francis and Beyond

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