Normative Aspects in the Apostolic Constitution of Pope Francis: Veritatis Gaudium on Universities and Church Faculties

Abstract

When analyzing the apostolic constitution Veritatis Gaudium, we see two normative perspectives. The first is based on the will to continue the personalistic idea of Catholic education as well as the missionary activity of the Church. Thus, it fits into the interpretation of how one should understand today the issue of reaching a specific person with the truth of the Catholic faith, as stated in can. 781-792, etc. Secondly, we have here a broadened view of new principles of openness to dialogue and universal human culture. We can call it „integrative humanities” or „missionary humanistic norm”. This means that if the continuation here present is a clearly noticeable personalistic dimension of the doctrine (in the spirit of John Paul II), then this requirement Pope Francis transforms into the principle of the Church’s going out to other neighboring cultures through a new paradigm of reaching truth and reconciliation (i.e. actualization). This was called „the necessity of the Church’s missionary transformation”. And if in this dual perspective is included the role of universities and Church faculties, which can provide integrating knowledge about man, giving scientific justification on an interdisciplinary basis, then in this context studies in Canon law acquire an especially important role (as well as the Code of Canon Law).