of integral education
Speaking at a meeting on “Religions and Education,”
Pope Francis repeated the commitment of the various religious traditions of
educating the “head, hands, heart, and soul” of each individual.
-By Christopher Wells
Pope Francis joined other leaders of world religions
on Tuesday for a meeting on “Religions and Education: Towards a Global Compact
on Education.” According to a press release from the Vatican’s Congregation for
Catholic Education, participants engaged “in a fraternal dialogue on the major
challenges for education today.”
Shaping the future
In his address at the meeting, Pope Francis recalled his
appeal, in 2019, to all those engaged in education to dialogue on “how we are
shaping the future of our planet,” noting that change requires “an educational
process aimed at developing a new universal solidarity and a more welcoming
society.”
This, he said, is the reason for his call for a “broad
educational alliance” to restore relationships in order to build a more
fraternal humanity.
“If we desire a more fraternal world,” he said, “we
need to educate young people ‘to acknowledge, appreciate, and love each
person,” regardless of our differences. He explained that education must be
established not only on the “fundamental principle ‘Know yourself,” but also on
other “essential principles”: knowing one’s brothers and sisters; knowing
creation; and knowing the transcendent “in order to educate in the great
mystery of life.”
The Pope added, “We cannot fail to speak to young
people about the truths that give meaning to life.”
Religions and education
Emphasizing the close relationship between religions
and education, Pope Francis said that, “as in the past, so also in our day,
with the wisdom and humanity of our religious traditions, we want to be a
stimulus for a renewed educational activity that can advance universal
fraternity in our world.”
The Pope acknowledged harmful practices that, at
times, may have disfigured religious education, including conflict between
different religions; discrimination against minorities; disrespect for the
rights of women, children and the most vulnerable; and tolerance of
exploitation of creation.
In contrast, he said we are now committed to peaceful
coexistence; defense of the dignity of all, and of the rights of all; and love
and care for all of creation.
Reaffirming the mission
Today, Pope Francis said, “we want to state that our
religious traditions, which have always played a leading role in schooling,
from teaching literacy to higher education, reaffirm their mission of
integrally educating each individual: head, hands, heart and soul."
He explained, “Let one think what one feels and does;
let one feel what one thinks and does; let one do what one feels and thinks:
the harmony of human integrity, that is, all its beauty of this harmony.”
The Holy Father concluded his address by inviting
participants to pray silently, “asking God to enlighten our minds so that our
dialogue will bear fruit and help us courageously to pursue the paths of new
educational horizons.”
ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS
POPE FRANCIS
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