Pope Francis on Thursday distinguished between how catechists and theologians interact with Church teaching.<\/p>\n
A theologian, he said, has a vocation to go beyond existing doctrine, because \u201che is trying to make theology more explicit.\u201d<\/p>\n
While a catechist, when instructing children and adults in the faith, \u201cmust give the correct doctrine, solid doctrine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pope Francis\u2019 comments on the role of the theologian and the catechist were made in a meeting with the prestigious International Theological Commission (ITC) at the Vatican Nov. 24.<\/p>\n
The International Theological Commission exists under and to advise the Vatican\u2019s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. Members are appointed by the pope for five-year terms, during which time particular theological questions are studied and the results published.<\/p>\n
The 10th commission, which has 28 members, was appointed in 2021.<\/p>\n
Pope Francis meeting with the International Theological Commission (ITC) at the Vatican Nov. 24, 2022. Vatican Media<\/p>\n
\u201cTheologians must go further, try to go beyond,\u201d the pope said in his remarks to the commission. \u201cBut I want to distinguish this from the catechist: the catechist must give the correct doctrine, solid doctrine; not the possible new things, of which some are good\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe catechist teaches the solid doctrine,\u201d he continued, adding that the theologian \u201cventures to go further, and it is the magisterium that will stop him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut never [teach catechism] to children and people with new doctrines that are not certain,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Francis explained that this distinction comes from St. Ignatius of Loyola, \u201cwho I think understood something better than I do.\u201d<\/p>\n
The International Theological Commission is at the Vatican this week for the group\u2019s annual plenary meeting.<\/p>\n
Pope Francis expressed his appreciation for the commission\u2019s willingness to explore three themes during its meetings.<\/p>\n
The first, he said, is the \u201crelevance of the fruitfulness of the Christological faith professed by the Council of Nicaea, at the completion of 1,700 years since its celebration.\u201d<\/p>\n
The commission will also examine some anthropological issues relevant today \u201cand of crucial significance for the journey of the human family, in light of the divine plan of salvation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pope Francis did not say which specific \u201canthropological issues\u201d the theological commission will be studying.<\/p>\n
The third theme the commission will deepen is \u201cthe theology of creation from a Trinitarian perspective, listening to the cry of the poor and the earth,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Two U.S. theologians are among the ITC\u2019s members.<\/p>\n
Robin Darling Young, a spirituality professor, and Reinhard Huetter, a theology professor, both teach at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n
A French-American, Father Etienne Emmanuel Vet\u00f6, is also a member. He teaches theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.<\/p>\n
Marianne Schlosser, a well-known German theologian, and recipient of the 2018 Ratzinger Prize, has been a member of the commission since 2014.<\/p>\n
This article was originally published by EWTN News English.<\/p>\n