The event, sponsored by the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, joins a number of other events being held in Rome this year and beyond to honor the legacy of St. Thomas Aquinas, an Italian Dominican friar and Doctor of the Church who died in 1274. This is one of them.
In particular, Pope Francis emphasized Aquinas’s clear articulation of the social nature of humans and the importance of the ability to use reason to discern natural law as particularly relevant to addressing contemporary social challenges. Emphasized gender.
“Today, in order to shape social thought and policy in ways that promote, rather than hinder, the true human flourishing of individuals and peoples, we must embrace this “natural tendency to seek the truth about God and live in society.” It is essential that we regain awareness of this.” Pope Francis quotes from Aquinas’s “General Theology.”
The concept of natural law has been criticized by some in the West as a de facto religious framework used to influence society. For example, a recent Politico report found that it was used to advance “Christian nationalist” causes, such as protecting the sanctity of life and promoting a sexual ethic consistent with human nature. He said it is used as a “core pillar of Catholicism.”
However, Pope Francis presented a completely different perspective, emphasizing that natural law is for everyone. In fact, the Pope said the angelic physician’s clear explanation of natural law is accessible to everyone, Catholic or not, and the world is becoming increasingly interconnected. , said that perhaps it is even more important now because Western societies are characterized by cultural diversity and religious characteristics. Multidimensional.
“Thomas’ belief in natural law, written in the human heart, was a powerful force in a world dominated by legal positivism and causalism, even as he continued to search for a solid foundation for a just and humane social order. They can provide fresh and useful insights into an increasingly evolving world,” the Pope said. Francis observed.