Vatican seminar to explore John Paul II document on women

Vatican City, Sep 27, 2013 / 03:07 am

The Pontifical Council for the Laity is slated to hold a study seminar on one of Blessed John Paul II's documents discussing the dignity of women and their role in modern society.

Held from Oct. 10-11, the theme of the event is "God entrusts the human being to the Woman," and is drawn from the late Pope's apostolic letter "Mulieris dignitatem."

The seminar is organized by the Council's Women's Section and coincides with the 25th anniversary of the document's publication.

John Paul II wrote "Mulieris Dignitatum" in 1988 in response to the desire of the Synod of Bishops surrounding the participation of the laity in the life of the Church, and in order to study the question of the dignity and vocation of women in the Church and in society.

"The moral and spiritual strength of a woman is joined to her awareness that God entrusts the human being to her in a special way," the document reads.

"Of course, God entrusts every human being to each and every other human being. But this entrusting concerns women in a special way – precisely by reason of their femininity – and this in a particular way determines their vocation."

The seminar will focus on the above quote taken from the papal letter, and will use it to explore the presence and participation of women in social, economic, cultural and political life, which has been steadily increasing all over the world.

Attendees will reflect on how the perception of women throughout history has changed, asking if these changes have led women to renounce their role, and will also look at the many aspects which have arisen as a result of the present cultural crisis.

Lastly, the seminar will look at the role of women in building a civilization of love – a term coined by the Bl. John Paul II – and will seek to identify some principles which are needed in order to safeguard the human person.

Proposals will be made for a new civilization of love, and ample time will be given throughout the seminar for discussion and the exchange of ideas amongst the participants.

Organizers of the conference hope that it will respond to the invitation Pope Francis made at the beginning of his pontificate, calling all men and women to be "protectors of creation, protectors of God's plan inscribed in nature, protectors of one another and of the environment."