Leo XIV: Christian archaeology teaches “that nothing can be discarded’
On the centenary of the pontifical institute established by Pius XI in 1925, the pontiff published a letter on the importance of this discipline for the Church. Archaeology has a "sensory" role to "touch, see, and hear the Word made flesh." It “teaches us that nothing touched by faith is insignificant." And it helps “Those who know their own history know who they are.”
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – Pope Leo XIV released a letter today to mark the centenary on the Pontifical Institute of Christian Archaeology. On this occasion, he also met with members of the institute during an audience in the Apostolic Palace.
In his letter, the pontiff writes that the current era, "marked by rapid changes, humanitarian crises and cultural transitions," requires "profound wisdom" capable of "preserving and passing on" what is "essential” for interpreting Christianity in history.
Such a “path” must be accessible to all. It must not be “a privilege for a select few;” instead, it should be “a resource for everyone” who wish to understand that “faith is embodied in time”.
In his meeting with representatives of the pontifical institute founded by Pius XI in 1925, Leo urged them to question the relevance of archaeology, which must be capable of “reading signs, interpreting the silence and enigma of things" in an age characterised by "artificial intelligence" and the “exploration of the innumerable galaxies of the universe."
He asks how "fruitful" is archaeology “for society and for the Church" today, noting that Christianity was not born from an abstract concept, but "through flesh”.
This science “reminds us that God chose to speak in a human language, to walk the earth and to inhabit places, houses, synagogues and streets,” he said.
Christian archaeology, therefore, has a "sensory" role; it "seeks to touch, see, and hear the Word made flesh;" it “educates in a theology of the senses“ and “teaches us that nothing touched by faith is insignificant." In short, it tells us "not to despise what is small", even a small piece of mosaic, or a hidden inscription, can tell "the story of faith."
Archaeology is also a "school of humility" in which nothing is considered secondary, a "science that lies at the threshold between history and faith, matter and Spirit, the ancient and the eternal.”
Christian archaeology teaches "that even the smallest piece of evidence deserves attention, that every detail has value and that nothing can be discarded," Leo XIV said, while “misuse and overconsumption” by humanity have replaced “preservation and respect." Thus, it is a "school of cultural sustainability and spiritual ecology.”
For the pontiff, if “nothing is truly useless or lost," then it is also a "school of hope”, representing a foundation for "theological formation,” speaking “not only of artifacts, but about people” as well. Hence, “Theological studies that disregard archaeology run the risk of becoming disembodied, abstract or even ideological”.
Memory is important in evangelisation. It is not "a simple recollection", but also a “living actualization of salvation.” Indeed, the first communities preserved “places, objects and signs”. “The empty tomb, Peter’s house in Capernaum, the tombs of the martyrs and the Roman catacombs all testify that God has truly entered history”.
Within the Church, archaeology is tasked with helping to “remember its origins, preserve the memory of its beginnings and recount the history of salvation not only through words, but also through images, forms and spaces. In an era when culture often loses sight of its roots”.
Christian archaeology invites us to continue the "process of inculturation", which has allowed the Gospel to find a home in “different cultural contexts”, still speaking today to "believers” as well as "non-believers," who recognise "an echo of eternity” in the beauty of antiquity.
“At a time when the Church is called to be open to the geographical and existential peripheries, archaeology can be a powerful tool for dialogue, helping to build bridges between distant worlds, cultures and generations,” the pope said.
Leo noted how the Institute "served to promote peace and religious dialogue" in the past, citing the 13th International Congress in Split (Croatia), during the war in the former Yugoslavia, as well as its ongoing operations in "politically unstable" countries.
The pope also mentioned its origin, the Motu Proprio “I primitivi cemeteri”, of 11 December 1925, noting that, “The Church [. . .] is called to educate people in memory, and Christian archaeology is one of its most noble tools for doing so — not in order to take refuge in the past, but consciously to live in the present and work towards an enduring future.”
Ultimately, “Those who know their own history know who they are.”
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