VATICAN - Sylvester II Pope, Scientist and Homo Europeus: Day of Study to close 1000th anniversary of the death of a man who saw with a prophetic spirit the importance of Europe extended eastwards and soundly established on its Christian roots

Tuesday, 11 May 2004

Vatican City (Fides) - To commemorate the outstanding figure of Gerbert d’Aurillac: scientist, musicologist, great teacher and first French Pope elected to the papacy in 999 taking the name of Sylvester II, the Pontifical Council for Culture organised a Day of Study on 12 May. The initiative is the final act celebrations for the one thousandth anniversary of the death of Pope Sylvester II on 12 May 1003, with the aim of valorising the vast and varied culture of this exceptional homo europeus, who saw with a prophetical spirit the importance of Europe extended eastwards and soundly established on its Christian roots. Precisely in the light of the present historical moment it is particularly significant to recall Gerbert who, one thousand years ago, promoted the institutions of national Churches in Poland and Hungary.
Authentic precursor experimental science, Gerbert made a fundamental contribution to the inclusion of Science in university curricula and he was the first to introduce in Europe an astro-laboratory for astronomic observation, fostering in the western world the process of opening to Arab scientific discoveries which were one of the peculiarities of the Middle Ages.
In Gerbert fides et ratio, scientific spirit and religious dimension lived together and were happily bonded, demonstrating to the scientists of today that it is possible to be researchers and men of faith because these two dimensions are not reciprocally restrictive. Reflection on this man offers the Church an important opportunity to continue that dialogue between faith and science to which great impulse was given by the Commissions instituted by Pope John Paul II on the so-called “Galileo case”. Presided by Cardinal Paul Poupard, the Commission completed its work in 1992 recognising “with honesty the wrong ” done to Galileo on the part of the Catholic Church due to “a subjective error of judgement”.

(AP) (11/5/2004 Agenzia Fides; Righe: 26; Parole: 317)


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