Forschungsprojekt ::

Educating for Resilience in Times of Polycrisis: Theological Foundations and Perspectives

Projektbeschreibung

In his message to the General Assembly of the Pontifical Academy for Life, "The End of the World? Crises, Responsibilities, Hopes" (3 March 2025), Pope Francis used the term "polycrisis" to describe a historical moment in which wars, climate change, energy crises, epidemics, migration, and technological innovation converge, raising urgent questions about the world’s future and our understanding of it. The situation as diagnosed by the Pope is a challenge for theology - to interpret its meaning, identify areas for action, and emphasize the importance of hope and trust in God.

Against this background, the present thematic issue of "Verbum Vitae" explores the theological foundations of, and perspectives on, educating for resilience in times of polycrisis. Resilience is understood here as a theological and educational task: to help persons and communities to confront the experience of life’s fragility, without reducing the human person to it; to recognise dignity, personal worth, and the inviolable value of every life before God. The central question is how Christian faith can sustain people amid polycrisis without denying suffering and at the same time strengthening their endurance? We invite theoretical, empirical, comparative, and praxis-oriented articles that engage the theme from within theology and religious education, insofar as they illuminate the significance of theological educating for resilience in times of polycrisis.