Fr. John Alexander, The Vice Provincial of INM, presented the keynote address titled, “Pope Francis’ Wave: A Significant Decade in the History of the Church,” enlisting the important factors behind the vision and mission of Pope Francis. Fr. Bosco Ryan, Dean and Professor at Sacred Heart Seminary, Poonamallee, gave the first talk on “Pope Francis’ Vision of the Church,” underlining the missionary-style and apostolic-spirit of the Holy Father which reinforces that the Church has to move out for evangelizing. Sr. D.J. Margaret FMA, The Provincial of Chennai province handled the second session, with her innovative and radical presentation on “The Place of Women in the Pontificate of Pope Francis.” She brought in the various aspects and roles that women are capable of in the Church and in the society, and spoke for an equal and complementary place in the decision-making and liturgical life of the Church. Fr. Sahayaraj Stanley SJ, Professor at Arul Kadal, Santhome, spoke about the “Moral and Social Teachings of Pope Francis.” He emphasized on the pastoral attitudes of the Holy Father against the canonical approach of categorical statements. Fr. Arul Kumar, Professor at DBTC, gave the final talk titled, “Canonical and Curial Reforms by Pope Francis.” This presentation analysed the important renewals and reforms initiated by the Holy Father in the structures and functioning of the church governance.
Each talk was followed by a 15 minutes of floor discussion moderated by the faculty members of DBTC. These discussions encouraged critical and constructive questions from the participants. The guest speakers and other scholars present in the academic event, responded to the queries drawing from Pope Francis’ spirit. Overall, it was a collective learning and reflection. There were more than 140 participants from different walks of life - priests, religious, students, young people and a few married faithful - present for the symposium. The entire programme was streamed online in the Youtube channel, Becchi Theologate. The Theological Symposium was a timely one to take stock of the legacy of Pope Francis and also to set the future pastors of the Church on the new and God-led path envisioned by the Holy Father.
