Pope Francis’ address to participants in world conference on education – Vatican News

In his speech, the Pope spoke about the culture of curiosity, which is completely different from the culture of gossip because it values ​​the art of asking questions, and this is what children at the age of “why” teaching us when they ask them. parents about everything. He asked the participants of the conference to always speak from the heart and to always be ready to defend themselves against current ideologies, which are the arch enemy of the path of maturity.

Then the Supreme Pontiff touched on the Church’s interest in this subject which the participants in the meeting are debating, which aims, as Francis said, to promote a method of education linked to service, and the foundations was established for the general responsibility of students through social projects. which are an integral part of their academic career.

In this context, the Pope wanted to stop at the famous American film “Society of Dead Poets”, which talks about students who attend a prestigious high school in “New England” and who taught by a special literature professor the last scene of this film, when the students climb on their desks to look at… To the classroom from another point of view. The Pope said that education should not be limited to the dissemination of information and content only, as it must change people’s lives. It is not a parrot-like repetition, but an exercise in seeing the world and its complexity.

The Pope’s words were not without talking about the style of education chosen by the Lord Jesus, because he used proverbs in his teaching, which is a simple method accessible to everyone, and which allows the listener to enter the heart of the novel and interact with it. characters. In this way, Francis said, Jesus wanted the listener not just to be the recipient of the message, but to interact with him in the first place.

Then the Supreme Pontiff warned about the political and economic interests that led to the current phenomenon of globalization, which leads to homogeneity in programs, and this case carries an ideological change that hides the work of education, and makes it a tool for goals completely different from the promotion of human dignity and the discovery of truth. He said that ideology always limits a person and does not allow him to grow and develop. From this point of view, we must be careful and protect ourselves from current ideologies.

The Pope then wanted to praise the efforts made by a network of universities in Central Latin America that wanted to strengthen the educational service at the level of Catholic higher education, pointing out that this case needs an educational and educational pattern that is compatible with the Gospel, and he made it clear that this is not an evangelical ideology, but definitely according to the Gospel. Note that this mission carried out by universities has joined the Global Education Charter, an initiative launched by Pope Francis in 2019 which aims to revive commitment to and with younger generations, and renewing the passion for a more open and inclusive education, able to listen patiently, talk, build and understand each other. From this point of view, Francis asked him to build a city of education, where we share a commitment to promoting good human relations and true culture.

The Supreme Pontiff confirmed that it is clear that education is going to be an activity that goes beyond school halls and libraries, because it continues in our lives, in meetings, and on the paths we take every day. He said that the path of education requires listening to others and communicating, saying that this essential alliance generates peace, justice, and hospitality, and strengthens interfaith dialogue and care for our common home. .

At the end of his speech to the participants in the world conference, Pope Francis encouraged his guests to speak from the heart, because it is only through the heart that our communities are possible have brought information together and will do so so that the Holy Spirit can guide our steps as a network of brotherhood.