The Vatican and the Holy Land: diplomacy and pilgrimage in religious and geopolitical context

The first part of a two-part talk by Anthony O’Mahony, tutor in World Religions at Blackfriars Hall and Studium and a Graduate College Adviser, held at Blackfriars Hall and online.

In modern times the historical vocation of Jerusalem has been identified as a meeting place for Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The encounter of these three religions in a city which represents a shared sacred space continues to present a challenge for their peaceful coexistence. Today the question of the identity of Jerusalem has come to have an international role of great importance and sensitivity. The City of Jerusalem and the Holy Land since the fourth century has been important place in the religious imagination of the Christian Tradition. Eastern and Western Christian churches through their presence in the Holy Places and centuries of pilgrimage have uniquely contributed transforming the Jerusalem into a Christian sacred space. The first lecture will give account for the intimate ecclesial and theological relationship between the modern papacy and Jerusalem – describing and noting that all pontiffs since Vatican II – Paul VI (1964), John Paul II (2000) , Benedict XVI (2009) and Francis (2014) have made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land as a ‘return to the sources’ of Christianity. The second lecture will consider modern and contemporary Catholic theological thought on the question of Jerusalem.

Free and open for all.

Registration is only required to attend online.

Venue: Blackfriars Hall - St Giles Oxford, OX1 3LY United Kingdom Array ( [lat] => 51.756248 [lng] => -1.259881 )

Contact:
Las Casas Institute
lascasas@bfriars.ox.ac.uk