"Forgiveness is a source of peace," Pope encourages in KinshasaJuan Manuel CoteloBefore taking the step to forgive, it seems impossible".What is the role of pontifical diplomacy in the Holy Land?At the heart of the upcoming Jubilee 2025, an event that, as we know, invites the faithful throughout the world to reflect on the forgiveness of sins and reconciliation, the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross is preparing to host the international congress "Common Memory and Collective Forgiveness." The event, to be held in Rome on May 6-7, 2025, will be a moment of encounter, study and dialogue, supported by the Dicastery for Evangelization and organized by the Christianity and Society Center of the Faculty of Theology, in collaboration with the Mexican Confederation of Businessmen Coparmex.
The objective is to address the theme of collective forgiveness and shared memory, in an attempt to make an important contribution to the reflection on conflicts and the possibility of rebuilding human and institutional relationships.
The essence of collective forgiveness
As the organizers explain, forgiveness, often considered a personal act, can also take on a collective dimension. Indeed, communities and institutions that experience shared suffering - be it war, oppression or social conflict - need tools to process the past and build a different future. In this sense, the memory of the offense, rather than being a kind of spiritual prison, can become an act of liberation and reconciliation, allowing us to recognize the vulnerability of others as well as our own.
This dynamic will be addressed through complex questions such as: how can societies collectively forgive? Is it possible to reconcile groups divided by decades of hatred or misunderstanding? What is the role of institutions in creating an enabling environment for forgiveness?
The appeal to academics
One of the special features of the initiative is the collection of scholarly contributions through a call for papers open to philosophers, theologians, historians, jurists, sociologists and other experts. Those interested may propose - until January 31, 2025 - reflections on topics such as historical memory and transitional justice, narratives of memory through art and the media, the relationship between education and memory or the role of public policies in the preservation of historical memory. Accepted contributions will be presented during the conference and published afterwards.
International participations
The Congress program is spread over two days, with presentations on key issues such as justice and forgiveness, the importance of documentary memory and the role of spirituality in the reconciliation process.
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna and President of the Italian Bishops' Conference, will offer a reflection on forgiveness in the context of war, and Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Patriarch of Jerusalem, will share his unique perspective on the possibility of forgiveness in the Holy Land.
Other talks will explore innovative topics, such as the impact of social media and artificial intelligence on the culture of forgiveness, featuring Professor John D. Peters of Yale University.
Forgiveness as a path of hope
Within the framework of the Holy YearIn addition to deepening theoretical aspects, the Congress also aims to represent a concrete invitation to look at forgiveness as a path of hope and individual and collective transformation. After all, Pope Francis often stresses that forgiveness is never a sign of weakness, but an act of strength that can change the course of history. In this perspective, the reflection will not only be academic, but also spiritual and practical, seeking to propose new paths of reconciliation that can be an inspiration for society and individuals.
