Pope to Sicilian Theological Institute: “Be missionaries of hope”

By Lisa Zengarini

“Continue to walk together, offering a broad-based formation able to impact ecclesial and social life,” because “Sicily needs men and women who can look to the future with hope”.  Pope Francis gave this strong encouragement as he met on Friday morning with some 200 formators, staff and students of the San Paolo Theological Institute of Catania, Sicily.

The institute was founded in 1969 when, following the Second Vatican Council, the dioceses of eastern Sicily decided to join forces to establish a center for the theological formation of Sicilian priests, religious and lay people.

Working together 

Beginning his address, Pope Francis acknowledged the significant contribution of the Institute to the local Church, remarking that its collaboration with the Theological Faculty of Palermo to which it is affiliated, “represents a model that can inspires other Churches to journey together in this domain.”

Indeed,” he said “when we speak of communion, we must also include relationships among formative institutions, which become laboratories of communion and mission, animated by theological reflection.”

Serving Sicilian society

Highlighting the regional context, Pope Francis underscored the importance of the Institute's deep connection to Sicily’s cultural and spiritual heritage, which includes martyrs such as St. Agatha and Lucy, and modern-time martyrs such as Fr. Giuseppe Puglisi and judge Rosario Livatino, both killed by the mafia.

Through this connection, the Pope observed,  "you experience ecclesiality, which places you alongside one another and in the search for new ways of evangelization.”

He also noted that the increased number of female students in the Institute reflects the cultural and societal changes taking place in Sicilian society, “where women have often been undervalued in their social roles.”

Sicily needs men and women of hope, not resignation 

Referring to the region’s ongoing challenges, including widespread corruption, organized crime which hinder the region’s development,  Pope Francis remarked that “Sicily needs men and women who can look to the future with hope and train the new generations to be free and transparent in caring for the common good, to eradicate both old  and new poverty.”  

The Pope therefore urged the Institute to engage with these social issues by promoting a culture of “welcome and fraternity” toward the poor and the marginalized  along with the integration of migrants in Sicilian society, which, he recalled, "has always been a crossroads of peoples" and cultures. 

Commending its academic collaboration with the University of Catania,  Pope Francis then encouraged the Institute to dialogue with the broader cultural context of Sicily, with its rich literary heritage, to inspire hope and resilience in the face of ongoing challenges. "In dialogue with this culture, bring hope and commitment, “ he urged.

Working for Christian unity

The Pope concluded his address by invoking Saint Nicholas, a saint who unites East and West, urging the Institute to take up the call he made in view of the 1.700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea to advance on the path toward  "visible" Christian unity.