CONCLUSION
Towards a cultural approach to culture
renewed by the power of the Spirit
39. Culture, understood in its widest sense as defined since the Second
Vatican Council (Gaudium et Spes, 53-62) appears to the Church, on the
eve of the third millennium, as one of the fundamental dimensions for pastoral
care, and «authentic pastoral work in the area of culture ... is decisive for
the new evangelization».(30) Those who are pastorally responsible for
culture are resolutely committed to finding ways for evangelization to reach
minds and hearts, and to transform cultures in a way which also enriches them.
They weigh up the elements of culture which are open to the proclamation of the
Gospel, and the challenges which have arisen from cultures which are
indifferent, or sometimes hostile, to the faith. «The Gospel brings culture to
its perfection, and authentic culture is open to the Gospel».(31)
Many meetings with Bishops and men and women from various cultural backgrounds
- science, technology, education, art - have revealed what is at stake in such
a pastoral approach, as well as its presuppositions and demands, the obstacles
involved and where it can look for support. This field of apostolic work is so
enormous, in this Aimmense Areopagus» (Redemptoris Missio, 37) the
cultural areas are so complex, that it is evidently necessary for all levels to
work together, parishes with the Bishops' Conference, regions with continents.
The Pontifical Council for Culture, in line with its mission,(32) is
committed to facilitating co-operation and to promoting exchanges, especially
between the dicasteries of the Roman Curia, Bishops' Conferences, and
international Catholic organizations universities, historical, philosophical,
theological, scientific, artistic and intellectual organizations, as it does
with the Pontifical Academies(33) and Catholic cultural
centres.(34)
«Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations; baptise them in the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe
all the commands I gave you» (Mt 28,19f.). The pastoral approach to
culture follows the way the Lord indicated. Closely linked to the Christian
witness of individuals and communities, it is part of the mission to proclaim
the Gospel to all men and women of all times. It is an excellent way of
inculturating faith and evangelizing cultures. «The need for such involvement
has marked the Church's pilgrimage throughout her history, but today it is
particularly urgent ... The process ... is a lengthy one ... a profound and
all-embracing one, which involves the Christian message and also the Church's
reflection and practice. But at the same time it is a difficult process» (Redemptoris
Missio 52). On the eve of the third millennium, who can fail to see what is
at stake for the future of the Church and the world? The proclamation of
Christ's Gospel urges us to build living communities of faith, bearers of hope
and love, to bring about and nurture throughout the world a civilization of
truth and love and a culture of life, in which each human person will be able
to respond both as an individual and as part of a community to his or her
vocation as one of God's children in Athe fullness of Christ» (Eph 4:13).
The pastoral approach to culture has a great urgency about it, it is a mammoth
task, it involves many approaches and there are immense possibilities, on the
threshold of the new millennium commemorating the coming of Christ, Son of God
and son of Mary, whose message of love and truth fulfils the basic need of
every human culture. «Faith in Christ gives cultures a new dimension, that of
hope in God's kingdom. It is the vocation of Christians to instil in cultures
this hope in a new earth and a new heaven ... Far from threatening or
impoverishing them, the Gospel increases their joy and beauty, freedom and
meaning, truth and goodness».(35)
In fact, the pastoral approach to culture in its many forms has no other aim
than to help the Church to fullfil its mission of proclaiming the Gospel. On
the threshold of the new millennium, with the full force of the Word of God,
Athe inspiration of the whole of Christian living» (Tertio Millenio
Adveniente, 36), it is helping man to overcome the drama of atheistic
humanism and to create a Anew humanism» (Gaudium et Spes, 55) capable of
giving birth, throughout the world, to cultures transformed by the prodigious
newness of Christ who «became man so that man might become God»,(36)
renew himself in the image of his Creator (cf. Col 3:10) and «put on a
new nature» (cf. Eph 4:24). Christ renews all cultures through the
creative power of the Holy Spirit, the infinite source of beauty, love and
truth.
Vatican City, 23 May 1999, the Solemnity of Pentecost.
Paul Cardinal Poupard
President
Bernard Ardura, O. Praem.
Secretary
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