The return of antisemitism must be seen not only as the return of something from the past, but also as the result of new challenges in the reception of the theology of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), included Nostra Aetate. These challenges come also from the transition from a Western-European matrix of Catholic theology and magisterium to a “global Catholic” that is much more diverse and pluralistic in terms of historical backgrounds compared to the time of Vatican II. This entails the attempts and the temptation to relativize the Shoah and the Church’s response to it, as well as to take seriously the return of antisemitism.

Dr. Massimo Faggioli is a leading authority on the history and administrative inner workings of the Roman Catholic Church with specific expertise in the papacy, the Second Vatican Council, the Roman Curia, liturgical reform, new Catholic movements, and Catholicism and global politics. Frequently featured in national and international electronic and print media, Faggioli is currently Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at Villanova University, Philadelphia. He received his PhD in Religious History from the University of Turin (Italy) in 2002. His books and articles have been published in eight languages. Recent books include Vatican II: The Battle for Meaning; A Council for the Global Church: Receiving Vatican II in History; and The Rising Laity: Ecclesial Movements Since Vatican II.

When: Sunday, March 17, 2024

Time: 2:00pm

Where: Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology (Main Lobby)