Learning Rome

to make the face of the City exemplary for the whole world

1.  Through expert reflections of some Bishops of the Roman Curia together with the testimonies of Ambassadors to the Holy See and personalities of civil life, we want to undertake a wise journey in ancient and modern Rome. A journey to illustrate the universal significance of Rome, the ability of the City to be a common homeland for different peoples, by language, race and customs.
It will be a journey not as for re-experiencing the ancient world as for embracing the "spirit" of the Latin and Christian civilization and for reconciling its value with the temporary reality. A journey to better understand the value of man and the value of democracy seen as participative management of the State, through specific bodies of representation and control, at the service of the common good. A journey to make Rome a model of respectful cohabitation of men and women of different religions and ideals.

2. This initiative is inspired first of all by Paul VI, who introduced a new type of dialogue with the City, and then recalls the exhortation of John Paul II who, in the book "God and Mystery" wrote: "For those who are blessed to be able to be educated in the capital of Christianity, even more important than studies is to learn Rome itself".

3. It doesn't deal with "learning in Rome", but with "learning Rome": because Rome is a great book, on which is written a many-centuried history of art, culture and religion. Created by men in a relentless effort to achieve truth and beauty, harmony between the individual and society, between man and God, Rome has established the great ideas of law, order and harmony. It glorified the law of men and the law of God.

4. Rome attracts foreigners from every country, and everyone shows that they love it in an unconditional way, almost by a strange force. It seems to talk to everyone, believers and atheists, artists or uncultivated, giving everyone the feeling of happiness and beauty. The warm and peaceful nature of Rome makes everyone feel at home looking for a new sense of humanity and a new creative impulse and, above all, the consciousness of history.

5. With these meetings it is possible to develop skills both in understanding historical facts and in using historical knowledge to build new sense and meaning backgrounds. All this is possible thanks to a didactics "oriented" to form that ductile intelligence which is expressed in the ability to learn to learn.

6. Rome, which is not afraid of time, is a place where people learn to deal with great things, the sense of fullness, of spiritual happiness. With its religious history, the City is still first and foremost the city of souls, and many people find there a more certain faith, a spiritual education that Rome inspires and knows how to fulfil..

7. Today the papacy no longer has temporal sovereignty over the city of Rome, but still has " spiritual" sovereignty, so important for the development of education for peace and respect for the environment, solidarity towards the world of suffering, the promotion of social justice and the full development of peoples.

Global Religions Social Thought

1. Religiousness is one of the essential aspects of human consciousness. Reflecting on the religious experience means exploring in depth the "charismatic" traditions of the various peoples. This helps to lay the foundations for the authentic breath of life and truth released from every culture and translated into a style of mutual recognition and commitment to human promotion.

2. Closely related to these considerations, this year's meetings at Domus Carità Politica propose the Global Religions Social Thought as the theme on which reflect and commit to in view of a more fraternal and supportive world. The aim is to highlight the importance of the religious element in human relations and the value of dialogue as an effective way of promoting peace and development for all humanity. Cohabitation and the common good are supported by dialogue and collaboration between all religious denominations. Politics, trade unions and social commitment are not enough to break down the barriers of indifference and selfishness, to build a more just, fair and tolerant society.

3. Today it is clearer that spiritual values are important to build a more sensitive and fraternal society. Without them society becomes less liveable. In this regard, we have invited the people in charge of the world's great religions to a phenomenological reflection on how their religion is absorbed in the world. This research about man, his relationship with morality, culture, society, the state and the different ideas of God, aims to highlight a possible convergence of differences. The aim of this work is to develop a meaningful centre of social thought which, drawing on the various expressions of religious faith, can be a stimulus to civil progress.

4. The world's great religions can play a key role in calling for and leading to peace, dialogue, hope and the great values of man. This role is expanded and takes on further meaning when the different religions unite their voices and coordinate their efforts to promote harmony among peoples and justice in society.

5. Very important is the consideration of the followers of other religions not as people to be converted, but rather as people to be understood, leaving to God the role of enlightening the conscience. We are not competitors, but brothers and sisters.

6. In conclusion, it can be said that the initiative of the Carità Politica association aims to combine three important objectives. Firstly, to present an overall summary of the social teachings of the great religions. Secondly, to raise and feed a stronger awareness of the gift and responsibility that all the faithful have to reflect together and look for new solutions for a future of peace and solidarity. Thirdly, to strengthen the dialogue between the Christian religion and other religions.

7. Particular attention will be paid to the specific role of religions in the progress and development of international relations.

Learning Rome

• January 9 Wednesday 5 p.m.
  S.E.R. Mons POLO CIPRIANO CALDERÓN, Vicepresident of the Pontificial Commission for Latin America
  H.E. Mr. RAYMOND R.M. TAI, Ambassador of the Republic of China to the Holy See
  H.E. Mr. MARIÁN SERVÁTKA, Ambassador of Slovakia to the Holy See
  Prof. ADRIANO LA REGINA, Superintendent of the Archaeological Superintendency of Rome

• Global Religions Social Thought

  • January 16 Wednesday 5 p.m.
    Archbishop GIUSEPPE PITTAU, Secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education
    Instruction, Education and Social Life
    H.E. Mr. BONVENTURE NDONG-EKOMIE, Ambassador of Gabon to the Holy See

  • January 23 Wednesday 5 p.m.
    Cardinal SERGIO SEBASTIANI, President of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See
    Ethics and finance
    H.E. Mrs NINA KOVALSKA, Ambassador of Ukrain to the Holy See
    Prof. ROBERTO MAZZOTTA, President of the Italian Bank “Banca Popolare di Milano”

  • January 30 Wednesday 5 p.m.
    Prof. MICHELE PELLEREY SDB, Dean of the Salesian Pontifical University
    Social Commitment of the Church in the processes of job training
    H.E. Ms BLANCA ELIDA ZUCCOLILLO DE RODRIGUEZ ALCALÁ, Ambassador of Paraguay to the Holy See

• Learning Rome

  • February 6 2002, Wednesday 5 p.m.
    Cardinal GIOVANNI BATTISTA RE, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishop
    H.E. Mr. CARLOS ABELLA Y RAMALLO, Ambassador of Spain to the Holy See
    H.E. Mr. ALAIN DEJAMMET, Ambassador of France to the Holy See
    H.E. Mr. KAZYS LOZORAITIS, Ambassador of Lithuania to the Holy See

• Global Religions Social Thought

  • February 13 Wednesday 5 p.m.
    Archbishop STEPHEN FUMIO HAMAO, President of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People
    International migration in the age of globalisation
    H.E. Mr. ABDUL AMIR AL ANBARI, Ambassador of Iraq to the Holy See

  • February 20 Wednesday 5 p.m.
    P. PAOLO SCARAFONI L.C., Dean of the Pontifical University "Regina Apostolorum"
    Christian freedom and liberation
    H.E. Mr. JUL BUSHATI, Ambassador of Albania to the Holy See

  • February 17 Wednesday 5 p.m.
    H.E. Mons. MARCELO SÁNCHEZ SORONDO, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences
    Christian vision of the economy
    H.E. Mr. ISIDRO GÓMEZ SANTOS, Ambassador of Cuba to the Holy See

• Learning Rome

  • March 6 2002, Wednesday 5 p.m.
    H.E. Mons. PIERO MONNI, Holy See Permanent Observer to the World Tourism Organization
    H.E. Mr. MARTIN STROPNICKY, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Holy See
    Count LUIGI ROSSI DI MONTELERA, Federvini General President
    Prof. RUGGERO MARTINEZ, Superintendent of Environmental and Architectural Heritage of Rome

• Global Religions Social Thought

  • March 13 Wednesday 5 p.m.
    Cardinal JOSÉ SARAIVA MARTINS, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
    Christian and politics
    H.E. Mr. VICENTE ESPECHE GIL, Ambassador of Argentina to the Holy See

  • March 20 Wednesday 5 p.m.
    H.E. Mons. AMBROGIO SPREAFICO, Dean of the Pontifical Urban University
    Justice and peace in the Bible
    H.E. Mr. ACISCLO VALLADARES MOLINA, Ambassador of Guatemala to the Holy See
    Justice and peace

• Learning Rome

  • April 3 2002, Wednesday 5 p.m.
    Cardinal JAMES FRANCIS STAFFORD, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity
    H.E. Mr. WILFRID-GUY LICARI, Ambassador of Canada to the Holy See
    Prof. CLAUDIO MASSIMO STRINATI, Superintendent of the Artistic and Historical Heritage of Rome

• Global Religions Social Thought

  • April 10 Wednesday 5 p.m.
    H.E. Mr. NEVILLE LAMDAN, Ambassador of Israel to the Holy See
    Prof. ABRAMO ALBERTO PIATTELLI, Rabbi of Roman Ghetto
    Judaism and history

  • April 17 Wednesday 5 p.m.
    Dr. RICCARDO DI SEGNI, Rabbi, Director of the Rabbinical College of Italy
    Influences of Judaism on the cultural and social sphere of many peoples

  • April 24 Wednesday 5 p.m
    Prof. BENEDETTO VITERBI CARUCCI, Rabbi, Director of Jewish Studies of the Jewish Schools of Rome
    Man and Job in the Bible

•  Learning Rome

  • May 8 2002, Wednesday 5 p.m.
    S.E.R. Mons. FRANCESCO MARCHISANO, President of the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology
    H.E. Dr. KARL BONUTTI, Ambassador of Slovenia to the Holy See

• Global Religions Social Thought

  • May 15 Wednesday 5 p.m.
    S.E.R. Mons. JUSTO MULLOR GARCÍA, President of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy
    Apostolic Nuncio: pastor and diplomat
    H.E. Mr. HUSEIN-FUAD MUSTAFA KABAZI, Ambassador of Libya to the Holy See
    Ambassador to the Holy See: humanist and diplomat

  • May 22 Wednesday 5 p.m.
    H.E. Mr. MOSTAFA BORUJERDI, Ambassador of Iran to the Holy See
    The anthropological vision of the person according to the Islamic religion

  • May 29 Wednesday 5 p.m.
    P. JUSTO LACUNZA-BALDA, Principal of the Pontifical Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies
    Islam and Muslim societies in the modern world: some remarks on geographical, cultural and religious identities

•  Learning Rome

  • June 5 2002, Wednesday 5 p.m.
    Cardinal ZENON GROCHOLEWSKI, Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education
    H.E. Mr. STEFAN FRANKIEWICZ, Ambassador of Poland to the Holy See
    Prof. EUGENIO LA ROCCA, Superintendent of the Cultural Heritage of Rome

• Global Religions Social Thought

  • June 12 Wednesday 5 p.m.
    Dr. ABDELLAH REDOUANE, Secretary General of the Islamic Centre of Italy
    Islam: Human Society and Religious Authority

  • June 19 Wednesday 5 p.m.
    Dr. MARIO SCIALOJA, Muslim World League Director for Italy
    Islam: Religious Freedom and Political Power

  • June 26 Wednesday 5 p.m.
    S.E.R. Mr. HUSEIN-FUAD MUSTAFA KABAZI, Ambassador of Libya to the Holy See
    The Freedom of Rainbow in the Islamic Vision of Man and Woman