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JEAN-PAUL II                  -                    JOHN PAUL II
                          GIOVANNI PAOLO II             -              JUAN PABLO II

 

La culture est une réalité qui naît de lÂ’auto-transcendance

JÂ’ai attendu avec impatience cette rencontre avec vous, hommes et femmes de la culture, de la science et des arts de Géorgie, car vous êtes vraiment les représentants et les gardiens de son exceptionnel patrimoine culturel. [Â…] CÂ’est à vous quÂ’il revient de créer une nouvelle vision culturelle qui puisera à lÂ’héritage du passé pour inspirer et modeler lÂ’avenir. [Â…]

La culture est une réalité qui naît de lÂ’auto-transcendance. Elle prend forme dÂ’une impulsion à travers laquelle lÂ’individualité humaine cherche à sÂ’élever au-dessus de ses propres limites, dans un élan intérieur à communiquer et à partager. Dans ce sens, nous pouvons affirmer que la culture plonge ses racines dans lÂ’" âme naturellement religieuse " de lÂ’homme. Cette force intérieure que lÂ’homme ressent et qui lÂ’incite à chercher la réalisation de son être dans ses relations avec les autres, reste insatisfaite tant quÂ’il nÂ’atteint pas lÂ’Autre qui est lÂ’Absolu.

CÂ’est précisément de ce mouvement dÂ’auto-transcendance, de reconnaissance de lÂ’autre, de nécessité de communiquer avec lÂ’autre, que naît la culture. [Â…] Les chrétiens ont toujours cherché à créer une culture qui soit fondamentalement ouverte à lÂ’éternité et au transcendant, tout en étant dans le même temps attentive au temporel, au concret, à lÂ’humain. Des générations de chrétiens ont lutté pour créer et pour transmettre une culture dont le but est une communion fraternelle de personnes toujours plus profonde et universelle. Toutefois, cette universalité nÂ’est pas une uniformité opprimante. La culture authentique respecte le mystère de la personne humaine, et doit donc impliquer un échange dynamique entre ce qui est particulier et lÂ’universel. Elle doit rechercher une synthèse entre unité et diversité. Seul lÂ’amour est en mesure de conserver cette aspiration dans un équilibre créatif et fécond. [Â…]

A présent, nous assistons à un processus de globalisation qui tend à sous-évaluer la variété et la diversité, et qui est caractérisé par la naissance de nouvelles formes dÂ’ethnocentrisme et de nationalisme exarcerbés. Dans cette situation, le défi consiste à promouvoir et à transmettre une culture vivante, une culture en mesure de promouvoir la communication et la fraternité entre divers groupes et peuples et entre les divers domaines de la créativité humaine. En dÂ’autres termes, le monde dÂ’aujourdÂ’hui nous défie à nous connaître et à nous respecter les uns les autres dans la diversité de nos cultures et à travers elles. Si nous répondons à ce défi, la famille humaine bénéficiera de lÂ’unité et de la paix, tandis que les cultures particulières seront enrichies et renouvelées, purifiées de tout ce qui fait obstacle à la rencontre réciproque et au dialogue.

LÂ’un des défis les plus difficiles de notre époque est la rencontre entre la tradition et la modernité. Ce dialogue entre lÂ’ancien et le nouveau déterminera en grande partie lÂ’avenir des générations les plus jeunes et donc lÂ’avenir de la nation. Il sÂ’agit dÂ’un dialogue qui demande une réflexion et un approfondissement majeurs et qui exige un sage équilibre, car lÂ’enjeu est important. DÂ’une part, lÂ’on peut être tenté de se réfugier dans des formes de nostalgie fermées à ce qui existe de positif dans le monde contemporain, et de lÂ’autre, il existe une forte tendance, aujourdÂ’hui, à adopter de manière acritique, le syncrétisme et lÂ’absence dÂ’objectif existentiel qui sont typiques dÂ’une certaine modernité. En affrontant les défis culturels du présent, le patrimoine spirituel de la Géorgie devient une source dÂ’une valeur inestimable car il préserve le grand trésor dÂ’une notion de lÂ’homme et de son destin, unifiée et intégrale. Ce patrimoine et les traditions qui en découlent sont un précieux droit de naissance de tous les Géorgiens, proclamé par les pierres elles-mêmes : il suffit de penser à ce joyau splendide quÂ’est lÂ’église de Jvari, un phare de lumière spirituelle pour votre terre. [Â…]

Que les hommes et les femmes engagés dans les domaines des arts, de la science, de la politique et de la culture mettent leur créativité au service de la promotion de la vie dans toute sa vérité, sa beauté et sa bonté ! Cela ne peut se faire quÂ’en aspirant à une vision intégrale de lÂ’homme. Là où cette vision est amoindrie, la dignité humaine apparaît diminuée et les biens de la création, visant au bien-être et au progrès de lÂ’humanité, tôt ou tard se retournent contre lÂ’homme et contre la vie. Le siècle qui touche à son terme, avec ses expériences douloureuses de guerre, de violence, de tortures et de diverses formes dÂ’oppression idéologique, en témoigne de façon trop éloquente. Dans le même temps, il témoigne de la force inépuisable de lÂ’esprit humain qui triomphe sur tout ce qui cherche à étouffer le désir irrépressible de vérité et de liberté. [Â…]

Discours aux représentants du monde de la culture et de la science, Tbilissi, Georgie, Résidence dÂ’état de Krtsanisi, 9-11-1999.

 

La cultura è per se stessa comunicazione

Sono lieto di questo incontro, che mi consente di salutare, in Voi, i rappresentanti della Lux Vide e dei coproduttori del film "Jesus", che verrà trasmesso nelle prossime settimane sui canali televisivi di numerosi Paesi. [Â…] Attraverso le vostre persone vorrei far giungere il mio grato pensiero a coloro che, a vario titolo, hanno collaborato e collaborano alla realizzazione di films televisivi su temi religiosi e, in particolare, su temi biblici.

Il mio auspicio più vivo è che tali films contribuiscano a far meglio conoscere agli uomini del nostro tempo il messaggio rivelato, offrendo appagante risposta agli interrogativi ed ai dubbi che essi portano in cuore.

Confido, altresì, che queste vostre produzioni cinematografiche siano di valido aiuto allÂ’indispensabile dialogo che va sviluppandosi in questo nostro tempo fra la cultura e la fede. In modo speciale, nellÂ’ambito del cinema e della televisione, dove sÂ’incontrano storia, arte e linguaggi comunicativi, la vostra opera di professionisti e di credenti si rivela particolarmente utile e necessaria.

La cultura è per se stessa comunicazione: degli uomini tra loro e degli uomini con lÂ’ambiente in cui vivono. Illuminata dalla fede, essa è in grado di riflettere il dialogo stesso della persona con Dio in Cristo. Fede e cultura, pertanto, sono chiamate ad incontrarsi e ad interagire proprio sul terreno della comunicazione. Specialmente nel nostro tempo, segnato dallo sviluppo dei mass media, la cultura è condizionata e, per molti versi, plasmata, da queste nuove potenzialità comunicative. EÂ’ doveroso tenerne conto.

Auguro di cuore che il vostro lavoro possa essere veicolo di evangelizzazione ed aiutare gli uomini del nostro tempo ad incontrarsi con Cristo, vero Dio e uomo perfetto.

Parole di saluto ai dirigenti della Lux Vide, 25-11-1999.

 

Il cinema: veicolo dÂ’una cultura della pace

Con viva gioia mi incontro oggi con voi, in occasione del Convegno internazionale di Studi dedicato al tema "Il cinema: immagini per un dialogo tra i popoli e una cultura della pace nel Terzo Millennio". [Â…] Il tema sul quale vi siete soffermati nel corso di queste tre intense giornate di studio riveste grande attualità e costituisce una logica prosecuzione delle tematiche dei Convegni dei due anni passati. Vi siete ritrovati a dibattere intorno al cinema come strumento di dialogo tra i popoli e veicolo di una cultura della pace. LÂ’arte, compresa quella del cinema, se fa riferimento alla vita rispettandone pienamente i valori, non può non essere sorgente di fratellanza, di dialogo, di comprensione, di solidarietà e di pace vera e duratura. [Â…]

Il cinema gode di una ricchezza di linguaggi, di una molteplicità di stili e di una varietà di forme narrative veramente grande: dal realismo alla favola, dalla storia alla fantascienza, dallÂ’avventura alla tragedia, dalla commedia alla cronaca, dal cartone animato al documentario. Esso offre perciò un tesoro incomparabile di mezzi espressivi per rappresentare i diversi campi in cui lÂ’essere umano si situa e per interpretare la sua imprescindibile vocazione al bello, allÂ’universale e allÂ’assoluto. Il cinema può così contribuire ad avvicinare persone distanti, a riconciliare persone nemiche, a favorire un dialogo più rispettoso e fecondo tra culture diverse, indicando la via di una solidarietà credibile e durevole, presupposto indispensabile per un mondo di pace. [Â…]

Questo nostro incontro, nellÂ’imminenza dellÂ’Anno giubilare, mi offre lÂ’opportunità di rinnovare la speranza che anche il cinema possa, nel quadro di questo grande e straordinario evento di fede e di cultura, recare un suo originale contributo per la promozione di un umanesimo legato ai valori del Vangelo e, per questo, creatore di unÂ’autentica cultura dellÂ’uomo e per lÂ’uomo.

Discorso ai partecipanti al Convegno sul cinema promosso dal Pontificio Consiglio della Cultura, 2-12-1999.

 

El arte es un camino hacia Dios

Con gran alegría me encuentro con vosotros en esta basílica, en la que trabajaron algunos de los más grandes genios de la arquitectura y la escultura. ¡Bienvenidos! [Â…] Os expreso a todos mi aprecio por este intenso testimonio de fe. Nadie mejor que vosotros, queridos artistas, puede sentirse como en su casa aquí, donde la fe y el arte se encuentran de modo tan singular, elevándonos a la contemplación de la gloria divina.

Acabáis de experimentarlo en la celebración eucarística, corazón de la vida eclesial. Si, como dijo el Concilio, "en la liturgia terrena pregustamos y participamos en la liturgia celeste" (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 8), eso es particularmente evidente en el esplendor de este templo, pues nos remonta con el pensamiento a la Jerusalén celestial, cuyos fundamentos, según la expresión del Apocalipsis, están "adornados de toda clase de piedras preciosas" (Ap 21, 19), y ya no hay necesidad de la luz del sol y de la luna, "porque la ilumina la gloria de Dios, y su lámpara es el Cordero" (Ap 21, 23).

Me alegra renovaros a vosotros, hoy, los sentimientos de estima que expresé el año pasado en mi Carta a los artistas. Ya es hora de que se reanude la fecunda alianza entre la Iglesia y el arte que ha jalonado el camino del cristianismo en estos dos milenios. Esto supone vuestra capacidad, queridos artistas creyentes, de vivir a fondo la realidad de la fe cristiana, de manera que engendre cultura y dé al mundo nuevas "epifanías" de la belleza divina, reflejada en la creación. Estáis hoy aquí precisamente para expresar vuestra fe. Habéis venido para celebrar el jubileo. [Â…]

Vosotros, los artistas, habituados a modelar las más diversas materias según el estro de vuestro genio, sabéis cuánto se asemeja al empeño artístico el esfuerzo diario por mejorar la propia existencia. Como escribí en la Carta dedicada a vosotros, "en la creación artística el hombre se revela más que nunca imagen de Dios, y lleva a cabo esta tarea ante todo plasmando la estupenda materia de su propia humanidad y, después, ejerciendo un dominio creativo sobre el universo que le rodea" (Carta a los artistas, 1). Entre el arte de formarse a sí mismos y el arte de transformar la materia existe una analogía singular.

En ambas tareas el punto de partida es siempre un don de lo alto. Si la creación artística necesita una "inspiración", el camino espiritual requiere la gracia, que es el don con que Dios se comunica a sí mismo, envolviendo con su amor nuestra vida, iluminando nuestros pasos y llamando a nuestro corazón, hasta morar en él y convertirlo en templo de su santidad: "Si alguno me ama, guardará mi Palabra, y mi Padre lo amará, y vendremos a él, y haremos morada en él" (Jn 14, 23).

Este diálogo con la gracia nos compromete sobre todo en el plano ético, pero abarca todas las dimensiones de nuestra existencia, y adquiere una expresión peculiar en el ejercicio del talento artístico. Dios se deja vislumbrar en vuestro espíritu mediante el encanto y la nostalgia de la belleza. En efecto, no cabe duda de que el artista vive con la belleza una relación particular; es más, se puede decir que la belleza es "la vocación a la que el Creador le llama" (Carta a los artistas, 3).

Si el artista es capaz de vislumbrar en las múltiples manifestaciones de lo bello un rayo de la belleza suprema, entonces el arte se convierte en un camino hacia Dios, y lo impulsa a conjugar su talento creativo con el compromiso de una vida cada vez más conforme a la ley divina. Algunas veces, precisamente la confrontación entre el esplendor de la realización artística y la pesadez del propio corazón puede suscitar la inquietud saludable que hace sentir el deseo de superar la mediocridad y comenzar una vida nueva, abierta con generosidad al amor a Dios y a los hermanos. [Â…]

Discurso a los participantes en el Jubileo de los artistas, 18-2-2000.

 

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VIENNA DECLARATION

on Multiculturalism and Multiethnicity
in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe

30th September 1998

From 28th to 30th September 1998, experts from 25 European countries met in Vienna under the auspices of the Austrian presidency of the European Union, in the presence of representatives of the European Commission and UNESCO, to discuss various aspects of multiculturalism and multiethnicity in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe and the role of culture in the process of European integration.

The European debate on enlargement must not be restricted to political, economic and legal aspects; significant attention must also be paid to social and cultural aspects. The Vienna Declaration therefore summarises viewpoints and ideas on culture, language, religion, media, society and politics, consideration of which is of vital significance for the successful continuation of the process of European unification.

These major themes and problems will be researched, taught, discussed and adapted for practical application throughout Europe by "European Academies for Good Neighbourly Relations". Existing networks should be used for these processes.


Culture

  1. As a broadly based project for peace, Europe needs culture in all its forms. All cultural developments are inseparable from political, economic and social developments.
  2. Culture is both a means of dialogue and a potential instrument of dissent and conflict between individuals and peoples.
  3. The shaping force of culture must be exploited to strengthen tolerance and democratic structures. In this sense, both national cultural identities and cultural pluralism – including multiple identity – have their place within Europe. This cultural diversity is in accordance with the European heritage and must be encouraged further in every respect.
  4. Cultural "cohabitation" is a potential source of crisis and conflict, since everything foreign and new is always the object of fear. At the same time, cultural exchange is encouraged by mobility and modern forms of communication. Thus contiguity and co-existence must constantly be learned anew and acquired through practice.
  5. Europe must exploit all the instruments of modern information and communications technology to intensify cross-cultural dialogue. Only through familiarity with other cultures can one shake off old hostile attitudes. Creation of the awareness of cultural pluralism, not as a threatening, but as an enhancing force, will simultaneously strengthen EuropeÂ’s role in a world of increasing globalisation.


Language

  1. Language is no mere means of communication, but is also a quintessential expression of identity and culture. All ideological and political tendencies based on different assessments of value for individual languages must be wholeheartedly rejected. In accordance with the normative values of the European Union, the fundamental equality of all languages must be guaranteed.
  2. One of Europe’s most important tasks over the next years is the anchoring of equality of opportunity for all linguistic communities. Here especial attention must be paid to the practical implementation of existing legal frameworks – in public administration, judicial and school systems.
  3. Awareness of the value of less widespread languages must be developed and encouraged throughout Europe.
  4. The propagation and realisation of multilingualism must be amplified in the promotion of international understanding. Foreign language teaching, especially that of neighbouring languages, must be actively supported from primary school age onwards.
  5. Translation and publication of important scientific and literary works, including those in less widespread languages, is to be promoted.
  6. In view of the increasing demand for qualified translators and interpreters, both in the International Organisations and in global markets, attention must be paid to the establishment of university and college level courses in translation and interpreting as standard in all European countries.
  7. Since specialised terminology is essential for specialist communication in the fields of information and of transfer of knowledge and technology, it is vital for all countries to establish terminology centres based on proven experience and employing harmonised methods.


Religion

  1. While religions will succeed in preserving their traditions, they will not be able to survive if competing with each other. Instead, they must come to regard their joint tasks as influencing social forces and cultural forms, and presenting them with paths and goals which serve mutual understanding and peace.
  2. The ecumenical dialogue of the churches from the Western and Eastern traditions of Christianity is as vital to EuropeÂ’s future as the inter-religious dialogue between Christianity, Judaism and Islam.
  3. Churches and religious communities can offer orientation in continuous dialogue with society, business and culture, but must not be abused to create divisiveness.
  4. An intrinsic aspect of EuropeÂ’s cultural diversity is the variety of relationships between Church and state in its member countries. As a general principle, smaller churches and religious communities are also to be recognised throughout all parts of Europe.
  5. The autochthonous Islamic community in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe is an integral part of European culture.


Media and Images

  1. The media have the responsibility of respecting and recognising EuropeÂ’s cultural, ethnic and linguistic diversity.
  2. Xenophobia, racism and nationalistic views must be condemned.
  3. Responsible journalism exercises tolerance and is on the alert for all forms of discrimination. This applies especially to discrimination on the grounds of ethnic affiliation, nationality or religion.
  4. The media are called upon to encourage tolerance of the diversity and uniqueness of other cultures, societies and ways of life.
  5. Cross-border media projects contribute to the breakdown of hostile attitudes and are to be supported.
  6. As schoolbooks can also instil intolerant nationalism into whole generations of pupils, the supranational or multinational production and distribution of such teaching aids is strongly recommended.
  7. The same requirements of tolerance apply to popular literature, which has a profound effect on millions of people.


Society

  1. The fall of the Iron Curtain sparked a far-reaching process of transformation in the societies of Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, which is leading to fundamental political, economic and social changes. These changes involve enormous opportunities, but also problems and challenges which must be solved within a European context on a basis of solidarity.
  2. For most citizens, the most important theme – after the achievement or anchoring of sovereignty – is the safeguarding of subsistence. For this reason, the development of civil societies is largely dependent on economic development.
  3. Of primary importance to the societies in these countries is not only the construction, but, more importantly, the consolidation of a civil society. This includes the encouragement and support of private initiatives and the creation and integration of NGOs.
  4. A factor of vital importance for the future of the countries of Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe and their relationship with the European Union is the reduction of existing economic and social imbalances and the creation of a definite prospect of integration. Only thus can the majority of the inhabitants of Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe participate actively in the project of establishing a civil society, and perceive and grasp the opportunity to create a secure future in their own country.


Politics

  1. Political systems must reflect and respect cultural and ethnic diversity. An integral part of European democracy is also a wide range of political parties, expressing the spectrum of social diversity and thus also contributing towards social stability.
  2. These democratic standards must be upheld and monitored by appropriate control mechanisms at national and international levels. It is essential to the development of democratic standards that democracy is understood and guaranteed on a number of levels:
  • Democracy is majority rule, but democracy is also characterised by the anchoring of the rights of individuals and minorities;
  • Democracy is a system of political participation (e.g. elections) and also a system of political results (e.g. fulfilment of social needs);
  • Democracy is first and foremost a principle of the state (constitutional state, state governed by the rule of law), but is equally a principle of society (development of civil society, e.g. in the form of NGOs).
  1. Democracy, especially in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, is both a product of a nation-state mentality and the result of protests against concrete forms of the nation-state. Multiple identities are normal in various European countries.
  2. The more this culturally pluralist society takes shape, the more essential becomes the concept of the citizen-state, enabling its citizens to adopt several identities. This does not exclude the possibility of individuals feeling stronger ties to an ethnic, religious or cultural group. Pluralist states can only exist by detaching political citizenship from cultural and ethnic identity.
  3. European integration can contribute to the democratic shaping of politics in a variety of ways and through a variety of institutions. EU, NATO, OSCE, the Council of Europe and other organisations form complementary options with functions concerned both with peace-keeping and prosperity.

 

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CURIA ROMANA


 

NOMINATION AU CONSEIL PONTIFICAL DE LA CULTURE

Le 24 janvier 2000, Sa Sainteté le Pape Jean-Paul II a nommé Membre du Conseil Pontifical de la Culture ad quinquennium S.E. Monseigneur Guy-Paul Noujaim, Évêque titulaire de Césarée de Philippe et Évêque Auxiliaire pour le Vicariat maronite de Sarba.


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