“Theology must help us overcome the self-centred concentration of Europe on its own problems and give greater consideration to the downsides of globalization”, said the Berlin theologian Peter Hünermann, during a recent seminar as part of the “Theological Courses” in Vienna. “This widening of our gaze corresponds to the most authentic core of the Gospel message: namely, the proclamation of “love for the world and for all humanity”, he said to the Catholic radio station of the archdiocese, “Radio Stephansdom”. Hünermann, considered one of the world’s leading exponents of Catholic dogmatic theology, stressed that this kind of widened perspective represents “the root of a new Catholic dogmatic approach that is open to the world. “Theology – he added – is characterized by a ‘twofold tension’ between the need for a capacity for rational dialogue with the sciences” and “the overriding principle of love, of taking seriously the sufferings of others. Only in this tension can theology truly be developed without losing sight of the internal principle of God’s great love for the human being”. As an example of a successful attitude from this point of view, Hünermann mentioned the development of theology in Latin America from Vatican Council II to the present day: “European theology can also derive profit from this”, he said, emphasizing that “theology only becomes ‘theology full of spirit’ if the focal point of one’s own interest is dictated by the problems of the world”. In this context, Hünermann expressed a positive judgement on the first encyclical of Benedict XVI, “Deus caritas est”, since “it contains a very important message”: “at a time when religion is mainly used to polarize and sow discord, the encyclical underlines the concept that God is love. This conviction must assume collective forms in the Church”.
