The Basic Principles of Personalistic Pedagogy According to Joseph Ratzinger/ Benedict XVI

Abstract

The rapid changes in the socio-cultural context of life and education of the young generation in Europe prompt contemporary educators to look for pedagogical trends that may be an inspiration for comprehensive education that rises to current challenges. The authors, therefore, refer to the relational concept of a person by Joseph Ratzinger and derive from it, the fundamental principles of personalistic pedagogy. In the first part of the paper, the basic terms related to the person and their upbringing will be outlined. The second part focuses upon chief educational difficulties; in the subsequent sections, they present the conditions of authentic upbringing and the assumptions of the education process presented by Joseph Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI.