Onésimo Díaz: “The Catholic Church and the popes have a lot to say in the 21st century”

Coinciding with Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Spain, the Master's Degree Christianity and Contemporary Culture hosted the presentation book “From Leo XIII to Leo XIV. What Has the Church Done for the World from 1878 to the Present,” by Onésimo Díaz, historian and professor in Master's Degree. At the meeting, he was joined by journalist Alfredo Urdaci, with whom he discussed the role of the popes and the Church’s magisterium in shaping the contemporary world, touching on some of the key issues that have defined modernity.

At the start of his remarks, Urdaci highlighted the book’s historical yet profoundly relevant nature, also emphasizing how Professor Díaz combines history with the cultural and human testimonies of each era, incorporating literary, cinematic, and social references to show how major events impact people’s daily lives. For his part, the author explained that the book aims to offer an accessible overview of the main contemporary debates through the teachings of recent popes, addressing issues such as war, human rights, ecology, work human dignity.

During the colloquium, the Church’s ability to engage in dialogue with those who do not share its faith was highlighted. The recent presentation Magnifica Humanitas alongside the founder of Anthropic was one of the examples Urdaci brought up. For Onésimo Díaz, this gesture is consistent with a tradition that has been established since John XXIII: “I find it very interesting that this presentation the encyclical included prominent figures from the secular world who have no connection to the Church.” He also highlighted the timeliness of the publication, which advocates for the care of the person in the age of artificial intelligence. “As the Pope points out, AI must be guided by principles such as respect for the person and the dignity of every human being,” he explained. In this regard, he emphasized that the Church’s social doctrine continues to offer criteria for addressing the technological and cultural challenges of the present. He also stated that with this publication, “Leo XIV offers a visit card visit the Catholic Church to play an even more important role in the 21st century.”

Throughout the meeting, they also reflected on the secularization of Western societies and the renewed contemporary interest in transcendence. Onésimo Díaz argued that the Church has been able to engage in dialogue with the modern world without renouncing the truth of the Christian message. “Amid fake news and hoaxes, the Church is committed to the truth and to the protection of human dignity.” The conversation also addressed the impact of the Second Vatican Council, the cultural transformations stemming from May 1968, the relationship between faith and politics, and the Church’s role in contemporary armed conflicts. In this context, Díaz particularly praised Leo XIV’s emphasis on peace: “Peace is not merely the absence of war; it is the natural way in which people and societies should coexist.”

When asked about the role of women in the Church and in contemporary society, Onésimo Díaz noted that popes such as Benedict XV and John XXIII advocated for greater female participation in public life, and he emphasized that “Jesus Christ treats women with the utmost kindness in the Gospel.” He also stated that the pontificate of Leo XIV could provide new momentum for the presence of women in positions of ecclesial responsibility.

The session concluded with a shared reflection on the relevance of the Christian message in a context marked by political, technological, and cultural uncertainty. According to Urdaci, there is today “a tremendous need to hear messages of hope and reconciliation in a deeply divided world.”