India: Prof Ambrogio Bongiovanni delivers Victor Courtois Memorial Lecture on Nostra Aetate at Sixty

Professor Bongiovanni

Professor Ambrogio Bongiovanni, director of the Gregorian Centre for Interreligious Studies and a full professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, delivered the eighth Victor Courtois Memorial Lecture titled "Fostering Interfaith Relations: Nostra Aetate at Sixty" at the Lawrence Sundaram Hall of Loyola College in Chennai on 26 July 2025.

Loyola College organized this event in collaboration with the Islamic Studies Association in Delhi, te Institute for Dialogue between Religions and Cultures, and the Henry Martyn Institute in Hyderabad, with coordination by the School of Human Excellence at Loyola College.

Victor Courtois SJ (d. 1960) was a Belgian Jesuit who dedicated much of his life to India, significantly reshaping the dynamic between Christians and Muslims. He is regarded as a pioneer in Christian-Muslim relations within the country.

In his lecture, Bongiovanni emphasised that, in our modern world, the goal of dialogue among people of various faiths is not only to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence but also to engage in a profound process of seeking truth. This process is not about grasping truth, but humbly allowing truth to envelop us, making dialogue inherently transformational. He pointed out that dialogue possesses a unique "soft power" that helps individuals confront longstanding prejudices and prepare for collaboration towards the common good.

Bongiovanni emphasised the relational aspect of dialogue, highlighting that God embodies relationships. Created in God's image, we are meant to be relational beings. Therefore, our human task is to mend relationships, especially when connections weaken and hostility and hatred arise. He pointed out that interfaith spirituality serves as a unifying force in fostering dialogue.

In his lecture, he explained that "deep dialogue" is based on two essential principles. The first is theological, asserting that God desires all people to find salvation in Christ and, in ways known only to God, brings all individuals to salvation through their respective faith traditions via the paschal mystery of Jesus Christ. The second is anthropological, which upholds the dignity and freedom of each individual to pursue truth and, upon discovering it, to commit to it without coercion. Ignoring these principles can lead to dialogue that is naive and superficial.

Bongiovanni also warned about certain risks in dialogue settings. He cautioned that superficial "show-off" models of dialogue, often promoted by individuals with corporate backgrounds, weaken genuine dialogue principles and distract participants from core values of honesty and truth. His lecture emphasised that dialogue is a call to explore more deeply, to think beyond surface interactions, and to engage with others in a way that respects their dignity.