JoMaCC Journal of Modern and Contemporary Christianity

Journal | JoMaCC
Journal issue | 3 | 1 | 2024
Research Article | Concluding Remarks: The Magisterium of Pius XII in a Historical Perspective

Concluding Remarks: The Magisterium of Pius XII in a Historical Perspective

Abstract

From the 19th century onwards, ‘teaching’ was increasingly seen as the core task of the popes; the pontificate of Pope Pius XII can be seen here as a preliminary climax of an increasing intensification of the papal teaching office, which also extended to more and more topics. It was a relatively small group of theologians from the Roman universities who determined not only the work of the Holy Office, but also the drafting of papal teaching documents. Professionalisation and a certain standardisation of papal teaching were guided by the attempt to restrict themselves to the area of principles of faith and morals. Anti-modernist tendencies remained dominant; the relationship to the succeeding pontificate and the Second Vatican Council with its divergent objectives thus remains an open question.


Open access

Submitted: Feb. 27, 2024 | Published April 23, 2024 | Language: en

Keywords Anti-modernismVatican Council IIMagisteriumProfessionalisationRomanisationScientific progress


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