A New Phase of Ibero American Theology? ALeap Forward Toward the Future of Spanish Speaking Theology?

Abstract

From February 6 to 10, 2017, the First Ibero American Meeting of Theology was held at Boston College, USA. The opening lecture follows. The issue it raised crossed through the whole symposium, called “Present and future of an inculturated Ibero American theology in times of globalization, interculturality and exclusion”. The opening quaestio analyzes the first part of the program: Present and future of an inculturated Ibero American theology. The Author asks: Are we at the beginning, are we protagonists of a new phase of Ibero Latin American theology development? Do we intend to leap forward in theological reflection among Latin American, Spanish and Hispanic theologians in North America? What can theology do at this historical moment, particularly theology thought, spoken, and written in Spanish? As far back as 2008 Galli suggested to focus on the future of Ibero American Spanish speaking theology. A frame that could be broadened to Portuguese language as well as philosophy at both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. This task requires a remarkable exchange among people and institutions of theological community in order to be meaningful. This essay tackles the issue from five points of view: history of theology in our region (I); theological interculturation based on II Vatican Council (2); Francis’s providential missionary and reforming pontificate as an opportunity (kairós)(3); the challenge of a theology in Ibero languages –particularly through the linguistic and cultural mediation of Spanish (4); the way of doing a new theologal and historical theology in order to read new signs of the times (5). Developing these steps will lead to new ways to face and formulate the issue.