On Friday, January 5, 2024, USEK’s Pontifical School of Theology (PST) organized an academic theology seminary as part of its philosophy and theology curriculum for the Academic Year 2023-2024.

The symposium took place in the wake of the Synod of Bishops held in Rome in October 2023, during which His Holiness Pope Francis called on the Church to “walk together” on the path of renewal of its identity, mission, institutions, and components, so that it can bear witness to Christ more effectively and defend the dignity of the human person, especially the poor, marginalized, rejected, and forgotten. This is indeed the main path of the Church and the purpose of its evangelization, teaching, and service.

Inaugurating the seminar, Fr. Elias Hanna, dean of the Pontifical School of Theology, stressed the importance of acting as pioneers in our theological work.

Fr. Gaby Hachem, full-time PST faculty member and ecclesiologist, gave the first lecture, titled “The 16th Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (2023): the Synodal Church Wager, Major Challenges and Hopes”. Having taken part in the Synod as an expert, Fr. Hachem discussed synodality in the light of Pope Francis’ thinking, summarizing the proceedings of the first synod session, especially the new subjects and issues tackled, the decisions made, and the challenges and prospects for the Church of tomorrow.

The second lecture was given by Mgr. Antoine Mikhail, full-time PST faculty member and dogmatic theology specialist, who talked about Pope Francis’ latest Motu Proprio Ad Theologiam Promovendam, published in November 2023. In this apostolic letter, the Holy Father called for relinquishing the previous rigid methods of teaching theology. In his lecture, titled “Towards a New Theology Message: A Reading of Apostolic Letter Ad Theologiam Promovendam”, Mgr. Mikhail explained the title and content of the document, which encompasses the Pope’s four exhortations for theology to be a process of growth, requiring it to be contextual, dialogue-based, synodal and wisdom-driven.

Following the two lectures, a debate led to a reflection on current Church issues, after which the participants were invited to a reception.