Focusing on the Basic Elements of Christian Faith in the Service of Renewal. The Scope and Effects of the Encyclical "Deus caritas est" More Than Ten Years after Its Publication

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to outline the scope and effects of Pope Benedict XVI’s first encyclical Deus Caritas Est more than ten years after its publication in January 2006. It depicts the context of this encyclical within the papal Magisterium since Vatican II and the scope of this document as a call for the Church to readjust Herself according to the hierarchy of truths and to focus on the basic elements of Christian faith in order to renew Herself in Her mission in the service of love. In order to achieve more of the desired effects of both Pope Benedict’s and Pope Francis’ pastoral Magisterium for the renewal of the Church and also of theology, the theological curriculum needs to integrate Caritas Science as a theological discipline which studies this essential dimension of the Church from both theological and interdisciplinary perspectives.