Madrid – Professor Alfonso Carrasco Rouco

"San Dámaso" Faculty of Theology

The issue, which in this manner has confronted in all its acuteness the ecclesial conscience ever since the discovery of the Americas (1492), has resulted in widespread reflection, that had already started in the Salamanca School and is still lively today. These days the indispensable reference points on this subject are first of all the Second Vatican Council and immediately afterwards the teachings of the Magistery that followed, within which John Paul II’s encyclical Redemptoris missio occupies an important position. On this broad subject it is only now that one questions the responsibilities of those who, without fault, do not know the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His Church. The theological presuppositions consist in the affirmation that Jesus Christ is the only Lord and Saviour, He through whom the universal redeeming will of God, one and trine, is offered and fulfilled; and then there is also the affirmation according to which the Church is "the universal sacrament of redemption" and that, according to the divine plan, it has an indispensable relation with the redemption of each human being.

The principal responsibility, mentioned by the Council, is the search for God with a sincere heart.

In fact, for its very nature, mankind cannot be totally indifferent when faced with the Mystery of God, on the contrary "man will always have the desire to know, albeit in a confused manner, what the meaning of his life, of his work and of his death is. " In fact, within the dimension that more than others characterises the human being, within his dignity as a person, "thereby provided with reason and free will and therefore invested with a personal responsibility", one discovers the impetus to search for the truth, especially that truth which allows the understanding of the mystery of life, the nature of the laws that govern it and in this manner put in order one’s own existence in conformity to them. This path followed so as to evaluate and search for the truth – especially religious truth – represents a moral obligation for each human being; God, on the other hand, does not scorn the humble heart that is searching, on the contrary, with His grace He supports and guides this sincere opening of the heart.

Mankind must answer this primary obligation according to a social nature, hence with the help of the "institutionalised magistery, through communication and dialogue". This means that man will search for God first of all following the routes made possible within the cultural and religious context in which he lives and where divine grace will not abandon him. On the contrary, the Holy Spirit will support him throughout his real journey towards God, in his commitment based on prayer.

Very often religious tradition suffers the interference of mistakes and limitations, which may even reach the point of exchanging the real God with a false idol; although this represents a problem that should not be underestimated, man’s heart can remain sincere if, with the help of the Spirit, he does not deny or censure his own profound desire, his opening to the Mystery, which has definitely become manifest in Christ. For this reason, every grace bestowed by the Holy Spirit, lavished on mankind in Him and through Him, leads to the knowledge of and the faith in Jesus Christ, and to Communion in His Body.

On the other hand, the opening of the human heart to God, the fulfilment of His will, acknowledged by the conscience itself, becomes above all manifest in works of love, which mankind is called upon to achieve regardless of the cultural or religious context he finds himself in. In undertaking such work the person also achieves his own fundamental responsibility to God, who, with His grace, permits this journey of self-giving, of personal sacrifice, of real love for one’s neighbour.

The search for the truth concerning God, the different ways in which mankind believes in Him with a sincere heart, must always be accompanied by love and mercy. These two realities are always intimately linked, both supported and guided by the omnipotent God who has made Himself known through the immense mercy of His Son’s sacrifice and the Gift of the Spirit.

Therefore, although without guilt and ignorant regards to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His Church, those who inevitably must battle during their lives "against evil, with much affliction and sometimes also facing death" according to modalities known only by God, receive from the Holy Spirit the chance to "be associated to the Paschal mystery" of Christ and achieve resurrection.

God in fact wishes all human beings to be redeemed and calls everyone to one single final and divine vocation, that is clarified and achieved only in the Mystery of the Word incarnate; and for this reason we are all called upon by the Father to conform to the mercy of the Son, to merge in His Communion through participation in His Holy Spirit.