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INTENTION : |
That those involved in scientific research may serve the well-being of the whole human person.
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The challenges facing scientists
The history of Europe has been marked by a series of conflicts which have left deep scars in universal culture, not merely Western. One of these conflicts to arise with modernity is the case of Galileo which changed the history of the relationship between science and religion forever.
Since then science and religion have been viewed by the public as adversaries in an all-out war. Nonetheless, it is important to emphasise that over the last 30 years important progress has been made in this area, with the help of an open and peaceful ongoing dialogue between both sides.
In this context, Christians committed to the cultural sphere, specifically those of us who are dedicated to progress in scientific development, are called to witness the fact that science and religion cannot only coexist peacefully but can also be of mutual assistance to each other. In the same way we are called upon to be instruments of peace and reconciliation, which help to heal the open wounds of the past within both scientific and church communities.
As Pope Francis emphasised in his recent apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium - "Dialogue between science and faith also belongs to the work of evangelisation at the service of peace".
I would like to identify some challenges which we must address. How do we teach science in our colleges and universities? Are our people capable of contextualising what they learn in a science course or in the media with the contents of faith? Are they two separate worlds? Is our faith to continue to be regarded as a "simple" faith (in the sense of ingenuous or not fully formed intellectually) in a world that needs a faith in line with the cultural challenges of today's world? Do our young people know how to integrate scientific knowledge with a wider-ranging rationality?
In developing countries, one of the greatest scarcities is the lack of interest in science. Certainly there are other more urgent issues. When we are facing serious situations of poverty we ask ourselves, in fact, what is the cause of so much suffering and why so many innocent people suffer in this way. To promote science in developing countries is to promote justice. These countries cannot progress if we cannot help them to become more "scientific".
A huge swathe of the world's population does not have access to basic needs including food, health and education. Not only the group of privileged people should know that the universe is 14 million years old, young people today from all countries and all social classes should be able to ask themselves the most important questions, which are not always the most urgent: Where do we come from? Where are we going?, What is our place and role in the Universe?
Scientists are facing challenges which go far beyond the specific sphere of our research and it is important that we are able to be of service for the entire good of humankind. Therefore we must work towards a situation where every human being can benefit from the results of our scientific study.
Jose G. Funes, S.J.
Director of the Vatican Observatory Specola Vaticana
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