Pope: Latin is a treasure of knowledge and thought

Deborah Castellano Lubov

“We honor the research, passion and dedication of young researchers who have chosen to devote their intellectual efforts and their love of knowledge to the interpretation of a linguistic and cultural heritage of inestimable value: Latin.”

Pope Francis underlined this point in a message sent Wednesday to the Pontifical Academy for Latin, on the occasion of the presentation of the “Pontifical Academies Prize 2023”.

In his letter addressed to Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, the Pope recalled that the Pontifical Academy for Latin awards two distinctions: Of natural rerumon Latin and the sciences, and De re publicaon Latin and politics.

The Pope congratulated the winners for their dedication to the Latin language and “its relevance in the contemporary world.”

Represents our very identity

“Latin,” Pope Francis said, “is a treasure of knowledge and thought, a key to accessing the classic texts that have shaped our world.”

Furthermore, he observed, it represents “the roots of Western civilization and, in many ways, our very identity.”

The Latin language, he praised, encompasses philosophy, science, art and politics, “thus demonstrating its intrinsic value as a tool for reflection and dialogue, which is an urgent need in a fragmented world like ours.

Latin still speaks to us

In this regard, the Pope said, the winners offer a contemporary and new perspective on how “this ancient language can still speak to us” and stimulate reflection.

“Their research,” he said, “not only studies the thoughts of the great masters of the past, but also integrates their knowledge into a modern context, bringing them closer to the challenges of our time.”

After thinking about both areas of study…Of natural rerum And De re publica, Pope Francis said Latin offers “fertile ground” for exploration and synthesis between science, culture and politics.

Tool for harmony

In this context, he insisted that “the careful and systematic search for winners” is “not just an academic contribution, but a real call addressed to each of us”.

For this reason, he said, today’s meeting “is not simply a celebration of research” but “an invitation to all of us” to reaffirm our commitment to a culture of integral human development.

After the Holy Father called the faithful to ask themselves how the discoveries honored today can be translated into daily life, he marveled that Latin, with the intellectual heritage of humanity, “can become a tool of harmony between peoples, promoting mutual respect and human dignity. »

Pope Francis concluded by expressing his hope that the prize “will become a sign of hope” and that “the passion of the winners will inspire others to make the same commitment.”