ROME, SEPT. 27, 2007 (Zenit.org).- We must research ways of speaking about Mary that favor dialogue among Christians, says a leading Mariologist.
Marianist Father Silvano Maggiani, president of the Pontifical Marianum Theological Faculty, said this to ZENIT when speaking about the 16th International Mariological Symposium, to be held Oct. 2-5 in Rome. Its theme is "Mary in Ecumenical Dialogue in the West."
The gathering includes study sessions in light of Mariology documents from the Dombes Group, an association of Catholic and Protestant theologians committed to spiritual ecumenism.
Father Maggiani said that the symposium was organized "with the intention to consider the problems in accepting existing research in Catholic circles; which paths are left to take in Mariological-Marian research and teaching; what new horizons we must follow in the research […] of speaking about Mary in a way that favors dialogue among Christians."
The "René Laurentin - Pro Ancilla Domini" prize will be awarded to Conventual Franciscan Father Stanislaw Celestyn Napiórkowski, retired dean of the University of Lublin, and a well-known ecumenist and Mariologist.
The sessions will be presided over by Monsignor Angelo Zani, undersecretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education.
ZE07092703 - 2007-09-27