Fernández Urges Humility as Doctrine Dicastery Begins Plenary
The plenary assembly of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith opened in the Vatican with a strong call for intellectual humility, as Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández urged theologians and Church leaders to remain conscious of the limits of human understanding when addressing sensitive doctrinal questions. Delivering a meditation at the opening session, the Prefect of the Dicastery reflected on the responsibility that comes with offering authoritative theological judgments within the life of the Church. Drawing inspiration from Saint Bonaventure, he warned against the temptation to seek absolute clarity or total mastery over truth, reminding participants that human reason, however advanced, cannot grasp reality in its entirety. He stressed that authentic wisdom grows from humility before God, especially in a time shaped by rapid scientific progress and powerful technologies that can create the illusion of complete knowledge.
Cardinal Fernández emphasized that while human beings possess a universal capacity for thought, this gift remains finite and deeply interconnected with mystery. Even the smallest fragment of reality, he said, cannot be fully understood in isolation, because every truth exists within a wider whole that exceeds human perception. He cautioned that failing to recognize these limits risks distorting judgment and fostering dangerous forms of self deception. History, he observed, offers painful examples of how false certainties and rigid reasoning have justified grave injustices and violence. For this reason, he called on members of the Dicastery to cultivate constant prayer and openness to the perspectives of others, allowing discernment to be shaped by dialogue rather than isolation. Theological reflection, he said, must always remain attentive to the living complexity of human experience and divine mystery.
Addressing the particular responsibility of theologians, Cardinal Fernández noted that doctrinal truths form a rich hierarchy centered on the heart of the Gospel, rather than a collection of isolated propositions. In a setting where documents can shape the Ordinary Magisterium and influence the life of the global Church, he warned that the risk of losing perspective is especially acute. Echoing the words of Pope Leo XIV, the Cardinal reaffirmed that no individual possesses the whole truth and that it must be sought together through humility and faith. Concluding his reflection, he invited participants to pray for interior silence, following the wisdom of Saint Bonaventure, so that discernment may arise not only from analysis but from attentive listening to God.
