June 14, 2012. (Romereports.com) In the Eternal City, 30 years is not a long time, but in just three decades the Pontifical Council for Culture has become one of the busiest branches of the Vatican. To celebrate its 30th anniversary and how far the council has come it released a new documentary on its history. It explains the origins of the department created by
John Paul II on May 20, 1982.CARD. GIANFRANCO RAVASI
President, Pontifical Council for Culture
“Now the Pontifical Council for Culture is moving in many different directions. They range from arts and sciences, to language, to unbelievers, to economics and sports. The concept of Culture refers not only to great intellectuals, to the aristocracy, but also the activities of daily life.”
The presentation of the documentary was also attended by Cardinal Paul Poupard, a former president of the council, and the French writer Fabrice Hadjadj, a Catholic convert who talked about the challenges facing the culture in Europe.
There was also an unveiling of the new website for the Pontifical Council for Culture
www.cultura.va The website is meant to be a meeting place with new generations. Even Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi opened a twitter account over a year ago that he now links to the
new website.
CARD. GIANFRANCO RAVASI
President, Pontifical Council for Culture
“It is the world where young people spend their time, meet, and talk. They also pass their time of decay here. For this reason we must be present and show the power of the Gospel, of beauty, the power of Truth.”
MSGR. MELCHOR SÁNCHEZ DE TOCA
Undersecretary, Pontifical Council for Culture“The challenges are always the same. It's to achieve a new synthesis between faith and culture. The saints, who have been great evangelists, have also been great creators of culture. St. Francis of Assisi, invented the manger in Greccio, which created the tradition of the nativity scene. It created culture and was actually evangelizing.”
Members of the Council realize that 30 years is very little time in terms of great cultural movements, but they note that their work has just begun and it's already having an impact.
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