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Treasuring Old and New in Social Theology:
from Rerum novarum to the Present Pontificate
The Symposium of our Faculty (8–10 May 2026) proposes an interdisciplinary reflection on social theology understood as a space of creative continuity between tradition and renewal. The notion of “old and new things” (cf. Matthew 13:52) expresses the fruitful tension between the Church’s doctrinal heritage and its capacity to interpret and orient the social realities of each historical period.
The symposium aims to explore the theological, biblical, philosophical, and cultural foundations of Christian social engagement, as well as its concrete forms of expression within the life of the Church and in the public sphere. Rerum novarum is taken both as a point of departure and as a paradigmatic moment in the dialogue between theology, society, and public responsibility.
Contributions are welcome from systematic and moral theology, biblical exegesis, patristics, canon law, social sciences, and philosophy, as well as from approaches that explore the spiritual, symbolic, and cultural dimensions of social theology. The symposium seeks to provide a space of encounter between different disciplines and methods, united by a shared concern for human dignity, the common good, and the social vocation of Christian faith.
Possible directions of reflection
(the list is indicative and open to further proposals)
- “Old and new things” in social theology: continuity, rereading, and doctrinal development
- From Rerum novarum to the present: paradigmatic moments and shifts of emphasis
- Biblical and patristic foundations of social reflection
- Social theology and systematic theology: anthropology, ecclesiology, moral theology
- Social theology in dialogue with philosophy and the social sciences
- Normative and institutional dimensions: canon law, ecclesial structures, public responsibility
- the spirituality of social engagement and its communal forms
- Cultural and symbolic expressions of social theology: liturgy, sacred art, sacred music
Program (TBA)
Keynote speakers:
H.E. Mgr Giampiero Gloder, Apostolic Nuncio to Romania and Moldova
H.E. Mgr Mihai Frățilă, Greek-Catholic Bishop of Bucharest (Romania)
Rev. Franck Dubois, President, Vice-Rector for Humanities, Catholic University of Lille (France)
Vito Limone, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan (Italy)
Scientific Committee
Organizing Committee
Rev. Eduard Giurgi
Rev. Tarciziu-Hristofor Șerban
Rev. Emil Moraru
Ștefan-Cristian Beca
Wilhelm Tauwinkl
Registration
Candidates will submit proposals for papers whose presentation could be fitted within a 20-25 minutes time frame, with an additional 5-10 minutes for the discussions, using the Registration Form. Proposals must include an abstract of no more than 2,000 characters spaces included. The papers should respond, loosely, to the thematic suggestions in the description of the symposium.
Deadlines:
The deadline for submitting proposals for short presentations is March 31, 2026.
Acceptance of proposals will be announced by April 15, 2026.
The publication of the works is scheduled for the 2027 issue of Verbum, the journal of the Faculty of Roman Catholic Theology.
The deadline for submitting articles is December 31, 2026.
Languages of Communication
Presentations may be delivered in one of the following languages: English, French, Italian, or Romanian.
Venue Address:
Faculty of Roman-Catholic Theology
Str. G-ral Berthelot 19
010164 Bucharest, Sector 1
(in the courtyard of Saint Joseph’s Cathedral)
Contact
For questions or further information, please contact us at the following email address:
wilhelm.tauwinkl@g.unibuc.ro