Cardinal Poupard calls for a faith-based response to culture issues of the day

Buenos Aires, Argentina, Jun 16, 2005 / 22:00 pm

The President of the Pontifical Council for Culture, Cardinal Paul Poupard, exhorted participants of the II Meeting of Directors of Catholic Cultural Centers this week to come up with rational proposals under the light of the faith that respond to the questions which the world of culture presents to the men and women of today.

“The terrain of culture is decisive, thus the need to strengthen the capacity to rationally elaborate proposals under the light of the faith in response to the multiple questions that the different areas of knowledge and the important decisions of life present,” he said.

The cardinal said the men and women of today need to be shown the beauty of being a disciple of Christ.  He also called for the strengthening of campus ministries in order to “cultivate a healthy and critical rationality built upon the faith,” which will bring forth leaders willing to evangelize the political, economic and artistic life of nations, as well as scientific research and technological development.

Cardinal Poupard also called for giving priority to “the strengthening of Christian initiation of the baptized, especially among young people.”  The “exuberant popular devotion” that exists in Latin America should be tapped in order to achieve this, he said.