Ihe Service of Faith in a Religiously Pluralistic World - 10-1-2007 - Address by Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J.

Sep 29, 2026

A Jesuit educational address by Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J. on the service of faith within a religiously pluralistic world. The speech frames Jesuit higher education through the “faith that does justice” motif, emphasizing that faith and justice must be inseparable in mission, teaching, and institutional life. It explains justice as a concrete, Christ-centered way of living, highlighting conversation across religious traditions and urging universities to renew their values and responsibilities in the Church and society.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

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Pages9

Reading Time23 min

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Ihe Service of Faith in a Religiously PluralisticWorld

Justice and FaithRelated

Justice Conference and Jesuit Higher Education

Article 19 10-1-2007 # Ihe Service of Faith in a Religiously PluralisticWorld Peter-Hans Kolvenbach,SJ. Recommended Citation Kolvenbach,SJ:The Service of Faith in a Religiously Pluralistic WorldTHE SERVICE OF FAITHIN A RELIGIOUSLYPLURALISTIC WORLDThe Challenge for JesuitHigher EducationAddress by the Very Reverend Peter-Hans Kolvenbach,S.J.Superior General of the Society of JesusOctober 3,2006 For the 175th Anniversary of Xavier University,Cincinnati,Ohion October,2000-the 25 anniver-addressing the actual world as itsary of Jesuit General Congregationunjustly exists and for helping to32's framing of its decree on Faithreshape it in the light of the Gospel"and Justice-Father Peter-Hans(emphasis added).Kolvenbach,Superior General of theIn a visit to the U.S.last year,Society of Jesus,opened a conferenceFather Kolvenbach once againat Santa Clara University.The culmi-addressed Jesuit higher education,nation of a two-year process involving U.S.Jesuit col-speaking at Detroit Mercy,John Caroll and Xavierleges and universities,the event was popularly knownUniversities.We publish here a slightly edited version ofas"the Justice Conference,"and the Spring 2001 issuethe Xavier talk,stressing this time"the service of faith."t gives me great pleasureMy words will concentrate on thing there is about nothing at all,itof Conversations which reflected on it was entitled,Once again,the head of the Society of lesus reminds usto address you as we cel-our universities'commitment to theis important to remember that reli-with conscious double-entendre,"After Justice."of the need to see “the faith that does justice”as centralebrate the 500th anniver-religious dimension of the wholegion and religious topics are not justIn fact,Father Kolvenbach's talk made very clearto carrying out our mission in the Jesuit tradition.sary of the birth of St.person.I do this in orcler to stress the the responsibility of specialized areasthat the Faith-Justice motif of Decree 4 should never beFrancis Xavier,the greatimportance of conversation about like the theology department or cam-separated;he sketched some historical problems com-missionary of the 16¹cen-religious subjects in all the areas of pus ministry.Rather,they are thetury.In the name of theing from just such a dichotomy and insisted thatJack O'Callaghan,S.J.,is chaplain at the Stritch Schoolhuman cxistence.In a worlkl in responsibility of cveryone at a uni-Society of Jesus,I thank you for allwhich specialization is increasingly versity.Indeeci,everyone involved in“...Jesuit universities have stronger and different reasonsof Medicine at Loyola University Chicago and chair ofyou have done and continue to do inmore important,a world in which this enterprise has unique contribu-than many other academic and research institutions forthe National Jesuit Seminar on Higher Education.this important -even crucial-apoS-people learn more and more about tions and responsibilities regardingtolate of Jesuit higher education.less and less until they know every-this central facct of human existence. Father General Kolvenbach speaks with (1-r)Rabbi Abie Ingber,Salem Foad,MD,Michael Graham S.1.,and Leo Klein S.1. In recent addresses on Jesuit higher Synod of Bishops boldlly proclaimed attention.In the years since 1975,education in the United States (at that“...education demands a renew-this conviction about the relationshipbetween faith and justice has beenspoken about the service of faith withrecognition of sin in its individualdeveloped and nuanced,debatedspecial attention to the promotion ofand social manifestations.It will alsoand challenged.justice.Now I will speak about theinculcate a truly and entirely humanJustice,like charity,is a wordservice of faith with particular atten-way of life in justice,love and sim-that can easily be misunderstood.tion to other religious traditions as itplicity.It will likewise awaken a crit-Some might say that justice is onlytakes place in a paticular culture.ical sense,which wi

FAQs

What core link does the address emphasize between faith and justice?

It emphasizes that the “faith that does justice” must remain inseparable, so justice is not reduced to only social action or legislation.

How does the speaker define justice in the Christian context?

Justice is presented as the concrete, committed way to live the Gospel and the new commandment through charity and love lived out by Christ.

Why does the speech focus on conversation among religions and traditions?

It stresses conversation as a means to discuss religious dimensions of life, engage other religious topics, and help people move toward the fuller attainment of their ultimate end.

Sep 29, 2026

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