Verbum Vitae

Jorge Mario Bergoglio – Pope Francis on Christian Hope

Sylwester Jaśkiewicz — 2025-09-25

As Pope Francis has linked the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025 with the word “hope,” the article aims to present the broader context of this term and the holistic understanding of it found in the teaching of the Argentine Jesuit who became Pope. The analysis is based on numerous statements made by the Holy Father, especially a series of his catecheses on hope, delivered between Advent 2016 and Christ the King Sunday 2017. These statements were complemented by those delivered by Jorge Mario Bergoglio during his ministry as priest, bishop, and then cardinal in Argentina. In this way, the article illustrates the continuity of the Pope’s thought, and offers a new, more complete presentation of Christian hope by the 266th Pontiff. The hermeneutic of hope conveyed by the Argentinian Pope is essentially existential and vital, biblical and theological. Following the Second Vatican Council, it draws attention to the “signs of the times” that should be transformed into signs of hope. The article is also an attempt to present the papal teaching on hope not only in a historical, but also in a systematic, perspective.

Intellectus Spei: Hope as Trusting in the Uncertain. Thinking with Pope Francis’s "Spes non Confundit"

Grzegorz Barth — 2025-09-25

This article explores intellectus spei - understanding hope as a rational and existential virtue of openness - situated at the intersection of philosophy, theology, and ethics. Drawing on thinkers such as Paul Ricoeur, Martha C. Nussbaum, Richard Kearney, and Karl Rahner, the author presents hope not as emotional optimism or probabilistic expectation but as a form of rationality grounded in trust and imaginative engagement with the unknown. In response to global uncertainty and technological determinism, this article interprets Pope Francis’s Spes non confundit as a call to reclaim hope as an act of trust, not prediction. This article moves from a phenomenology of hope in uncertainty (Section 2), through its ontological and theological dimensions (Section 3), toward its transformative role in forgiveness and mercy (Section 4). Section 5 critiques the distortions of hope under materialism and nihilism, while Section 6 turns to the eschatological horizon, where hope finds fulfillment in divine justice and eternal life. The article’s conclusion presents Christian hope as a form of life and a “wisdom of uncertainty” - an existential stance that neither escapes reality nor succumbs to it but transforms it through trust in God’s unseen promise. Intellectus spei thus emerges as a structural shift in thought: from closure to openness, from the calculable to the creative, and from resignation to responsibility.

Christian Hope as a Path to the Great Meaning in the Light of Joseph Ratzinger’s Work

Krzysztof Kaucha — 2025-09-25

The anthropological crisis, hopelessness, and doubt about the meaning of life are causes of growing concern and demand a decisive response. Defining the meaning of life is one of the tasks of fundamental theology. The article explores the connections between hope and the meaning of life, which is crucial for experiencing life satisfaction. The research is based on the texts of Joseph Ratzinger, who is recognised as one of the most outstanding theologians of hope. The research was carried out in several stages. First, Ratzinger’s texts on hope, the meaning of life, and the connections between them were selected, and subsequently analysed with reference to publications dedicated to his thought. The research confirmed the assumption that hope is necessary to define a lasting meaning of life. It was concluded that, according to Ratzinger, Christian hope as a specific and great hope leads to the discovery of a meaning of life that should be called the Great Meaning. It means positive purposefulness, saving purpose, and great value of reality as a wholeat every moment of its history. In Ratzinger’s thought, the path from Christian hope to the Great Meaning leads through two important “spans”: the Christian image of God and the Christian, unique understanding of reality as a whole. The analysis led to the conclusion that both Christian hope and the Great Meaning are not only eschatological, but also pre-eschatological realities, because they always accompany Christian existence.

God’s Hope as a Basis of Human Hope According to Józef Tischner and Hans Urs von Balthasar

Lech Wołowski — 2025-09-25

This article examines the problematics of anthropological and theological understanding of the concept of Christian hope in the context of the reflection of Józef Tischner and Hans Urs von Balthasar. This integral view of the issue is characterized by the tendency of both thinkers to go beyond the classical anthropological limitations imposed on the concept of hope towards its fuller Christological and theological understanding. From a methodological and structural standpoint, the analyses conducted in the article cover four main dimensions of Christian hope: religious-historical, anthropological- Christological, theological-dramatic (theodramatic) and soteriological-eschatological. The analyses conducted explain why, for Tischner, hope is not limited to the anthropological aspect, but also includes the theological-Christological dimension, and for von Balthasar, it is not limited only to human hope, but also includes the hope of God. The article concludes with the formulation and justification of two original theses concerning the understanding of hell as an eschatological museum of sin and the understanding of God’s hope as the ultimate basis of human hope in the context of the postulate of universal hope of salvation.

The Concept of Hope in Selected Textbooks of Moral Theology

Tadeusz Zadykowicz — 2025-09-25

This article addresses the evolving understanding of hope - one of the theological virtues - in moral theology textbooks. It begins with works that served this purpose even before moral theology emerged as a distinct discipline and moves through textbooks dating from the 17th century, through the 20th century, up to the present day. The starting point is the Jubilee Year 2025, celebrated under the theme of “Pilgrims of Hope,” which offers an opportunity for deeper reflection on this concept. The research question focuses on how hope has been and is currently presented in moral theology textbooks and what stages and directions of this reflection can be identified. The method applied involves a comparative analysis of selected classical and contemporary textbooks, as well as earlier theological-moral works. The criterion guiding the analysis is a substantive approach that considers how hope is understood (as a virtue, commandment, or spiritual disposition) and what its place in the exposition of moral theology and moral life is. The sources include representative textbooks and works by authors such as St. Augustine, Peter Lombard, St. Thomas Aquinas, Juan Azor, St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, Johann Michael Sailer, Johann Baptista von Hirscher, and Fritz Tillmann, as well as writings from the immediate pre- and post-conciliar period up to the present day. The article demonstrates that although the concept of hope has undergone significant development, it remains a key category for understanding Christian morality, and contemporary interpretations represent both a continuation and a re-interpretation of the theological tradition.

Sources of Hope for Sinners in the Light of the Revelation of St. John

Tomasz Siemieniec — 2025-09-25

This article seeks to answer the question of the sources of hope for sinners in the Apocalypse of John. The research problem may be summarized as follows: Does God, in any way, reveal to sinners that, despite their present condition, He continues to hold hope for their conversion? The prevailing view is that sinners in the Apocalypse are depicted primarily as the recipients of plagues intended to lead them to repentance. Yet is this the only way God seeks to bring them back to the right path? Is it possible, within the descriptions of these plagues, to discern elements that reveal a God who not only punishes but also offers an opportunity for conversion? The study begins by identifying key expressions in the Book of Revelation that refer to sinners: “inhabitants of the earth,”“the dead,” and “the men.” It then undertakes a synchronic analysis of relevant passages, seeking indications that divine punishment is not absolute. In Rev 14:6, sinners are the recipients of the “eternal gospel,” representing a call to repentance. In Rev 14:13, “the dea” are given the promise that even conversion at the final moment of life will be effective. The third designation for sinners—οἱ ἄνθρωποι—leads to a similar conclusion: the plagues that strike them are not an irreversible judgment, but rather a punishment that is partial in both scope and duration.

The Object and the Sources of Christian Hope in the Pauline Letters

Paweł Lasek — 2025-09-25

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the theme of hope in the Corpus Paulinum. The Apostle to the Gentiles uses the term “hope” frequently, in both its noun and verb forms, understanding it as the expectation of something in the future. While he sometimes relates this expectation to temporal realities, he also distinguishes another kind of hope—Christian hope—which refers to eternity. The object of this hope is described in various ways, yet it can be summed up as eternal life in heaven. This Christian hope is grounded above all in the person and work of Jesus Christ—a work that has already taken place (and is thus a fact) and which, for the one who accepts it in faith, becomes the foundation for expecting its fulfillment in the sphere of eternity. The community of such believers constitutes Christ’s Church of the New Covenant, the temple and sphere of the Holy Spirit’s activity. The Spirit’s person and work serve as a “deposit” guaranteeing believers’ future and eternal destiny, and thus as another source of their hope regarding life after death. In addition, this hope rests on the enduring and imperishable character of Christ’s sacrifice and the New Covenant between God and humanity established in Him, as well as on God’s revelation in the incarnation of the Son and in the Gospel, which imparts to believers knowledge of the spiritual and eternal reality.

On the Desire for Eternal Life in the Light of Rev 7:13-17

Dariusz Kotecki — 2025-09-25

The author of the article raises the question of the meaning of thirst in Rev 7:16 within the context of the pericope 7:13–17. The analysis is literary in character, focusing on the meaning of individual words, expressions, formulas, and images, while taking into account biblical and extra-biblical parallels within the broader contexts of the pericope itself (7:13–17), the entire Book of Revelation (where the terminology and context of 7:16 are closely related to 21:6 and 22:17), and the whole of Scripture. The author further assumes that the interpretive subject of the Apocalypse’s message is the liturgical assembly gathered for the Eucharist. The listening community, understood as a fellowship of redeemed sinners, receives in 7:13–17 an answer to three fundamental questions: (1) Who are the saved (7:13–14)? (2) What does it mean to be saved (7:15.17a)? (3) What are the fruits of salvation (7:16.17b)? On the basis of this analysis, the author concludes that 7:16 does not speak of physical thirst but of the thirst for salvation—for eternal life (“the springs of the water of life”)—which later theology designates as the virtue of hope. The ways that lead to salvation, that is, to eternal life, consist in openness to the power and vitality that flow from the paschal mystery of Jesus and are realized in the sacramental life (baptism, Eucharist, cooperation with divine grace). This enables believers to endure all adversities and hardships arising from an environment hostile to Christians (“the great tribulation”). The entire narrative strategy of 7:13–17, not only of 7:16, in light of the question about salvation in 6:17, is directed toward awakening within the listening community the desire for eternal life.

Pessimism and Hope in Gregory of Nazianzus’ Theological Heritage

Ihnatia Havrylyk — 2025-09-25

The theological virtue of hope has been a subject of profound reflection in the Christian tradition, particularly for its role in spiritual life and the human journey toward God. While Gregory of Nazianzus’ (329–390) contributions to Trinitarian theology and Christology have been extensively studied, his understanding of hope as an integral element of spiritual life has not yet received adequate systematic attention. This article addresses this research gap through a hermeneutical analysis of Gregory’s theological legacy. Although his works do not contain a systematic teaching on hope, the study demonstrates how Gregory’s spiritual experience transforms into a profound theological vision of hope. The article proceeds in three stages: first examining Gregory’s personal experience and its influence on his theological thinking, then analyzing his poetic works that describe existential experiences of pessimism, and finally exploring the theological foundation of his concept of hope through his anthropological teaching. The research reveals that Gregory develops an “anthropology of hope” where human existence, though marked by struggle and suffering, finds its ultimate meaning in the calling to theosis. By examining the dialectical tension between pessimism and divine aspiration in Gregory’s poetry, this study shows how he articulates hope not as mere optimism, but as a dynamic reality grounded in the experience of God’s presence and God’s promises.

"Pilgrimage of Hope" in the Life and Charism of Sister Barbara Stanisława Samulowska D.C.

Szczepan Szpoton — 2025-09-25

This study aims to analyze the understanding and implementation of hope within the Vincentian charism, as exemplified by the life and ministry of the Servant of God, Sr. Barbara Samulowska. Referring to the teachings of St. Vincent de Paul and the spirituality of the Daughters of Charity, the author presents hope as a reality closely linked to Divine Providence. Saint Vincent identifies Providence as the source of hope and emphasizes the importance of fidelity to one’s vocation and trust in God’s guidance. From this perspective, hope is dynamic and active—it is expressed in daily life, ministry, and cooperation with God’s plan of salvation. By living out her missionary charism in Guatemala, Sr. Samulowska becomes a witness to a “pilgrimage of hope” rooted in faith and sensitivity to the needs of others. Her life demonstrates that Vincentian hope takes on an incarnate form—becoming tangible through concrete acts of mercy and care for the human person.

Spirituality and Hope in Old Age: Case Study of the Spiritual Academy

Tadej Stegu — 2025-09-25

The article examines the meaning of spirituality and hope in old age, with a special focus on the Spiritual Academy, a programme at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Ljubljana. The research question focuses on how and why spirituality becomes an important factor in maintaining hope in old age and what role it plays in the context of a secularised society that often does not provide sufficient support for existential issues related to ageing. The article deals with both theoretical and empirical aspects of spirituality and hope in old age. It initially draws on relevant psychological, sociological and theological sources from established authors. The methodology of the following empirical section is based on the analysis of anonymous questionnaires completed by participants at the end of each year to investigate whether the programme meets the spiritual needs of older adults. For this purpose, a case study method with an evaluation questionnaire (with elements of a Likert scale and open questions) was used. The results show that the programme effectively addresses the need for spiritual and personal growth and provides a space for sharing experiences and reflection. Although the survey indicates a high level of participant satisfaction with the Spiritual Academy programme, it also points to areas for improvement, both in terms of organisation and content. The analysis revealed a strong interest among participants in topics related to spirituality and hope, confirming the importance of such non-formal educational programmes for older people.

Signs of Hope in Selected Gregorian Chant Texts in the Context of Pope Francis’s Message of the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025

Michał Jędrzejski — 2025-09-25

This article presents the signs of hope, listed by Pope Francis in his bull Spes non confundit, in sixteen selected Gregorian chants of the liturgical year based on the Bible in the context of the message of the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025. The subject of the research is divided into two groups: the Liturgy of the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours. For each, one piece was selected for Advent, Nativity of the Lord, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, Pentecost, Ordinary Time, and the Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe. The author employs several methods, including theological-biblical analysis, a comparison of the message of hope by Pope Francis and the texts of the chorales, and a synthesis of the results to assess the value and pastoral usefulness of the studied chants. The text is divided into three parts: (1) Pope Francis’s message on the signs of hope; (2) signs of hope in selected Gregorian chant texts; and (3) hope-carrying potential of Gregorian chant. The author shows how selected pieces serve to revive hope and give thanks to God in the contemplation of a work of art (SNC 5). As a result, signs of hope, mentioned by Pope Francis, have been discovered in the presented pieces. Their presence testifies to the richness of the message that the Church directs to man throughout the liturgical year, also through Gregorian chant. Given the threat of experiencing the present in melancholy and boredom (SNC 12), this repertoire, through its theological-biblical and artistic values, can be one of the impulses of hope that Francis writes about.

The Church as a Sacrament of Hope in Times of Devaluation of Words

Antoni Nadbrzeżny — 2025-09-25

The aim of this article is to present the Church as a sacrament of hope in the context of the cultural phenomenon known as global logorrhea. This term denotes an uncontrolled stream of ambivalent words, often semantically devalued, which contribute to the alienation of contemporary humanity. Logorrhea gives rise to the danger of existential despair and calls for an adequate theological response. For this reason, contextual ecclesiology seeks to portray credibly the Incarnate Word of God as the transcendent source of the Great Hope. The Church, as the sacrament of the risen Christ present in the history of the world, inevitably clashes with the onslaught of new ideological proposals of a utopian nature. These emerge as the effect of dynamic logorrhea which, following the collapse of former relatively coherent social utopias, continues to generate utopian syncretisms based on an arbitrary combination of words and ideas torn from their original contexts. In the face of this phenomenon, an important task of ecclesiology is both the critique of emerging utopias and the rational justification of the thesis that Christianity, in its very essence, is not a utopia. The article employs the theological method of correlation, appropriate to contextual and pretextual ecclesiology, and is divided into five parts. The first characterizes the phenomenon of logorrhea. The second develops a typology of the human word. The third discusses the significance of the ecclesial making-present of the Incarnate Logos in the face of existential despair. The fourth reveals the reasons for the seductive power of utopia. The fifth demonstrates the liberating power of Christ as the Great Hope and explains why Christianity is not a utopia.