Three meetings to reflect on the destiny of the West

Photo: Alexandra Dan

The ‘Destino dell'Occidente’ (Destiny of the West) event begins, three open meetings from April to June with Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, philosopher Massimo Cacciari and latinist Ivano Dionigi at the Basilica of San Petronio.

Conceived by the Study Centre "La Permanenza del Classico’ of the University of Bologna", in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Bologna, the event will pose a series of questions and seek to answer them: how can Europe rediscover its spiritual and political identity, remain faithful to its historic vocation and not lose its sense of purpose in the name of union, justice and solidarity?

How can we extract those precious materials from the wealth of European traditions and ideas that will allow us to discover the spirit that can generate peace in Europe and help overcome conflicts between imperial powers on a global scale? Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi will open the event on Wednesday 17 April at 9 pm with his talk on ‘Christianity and Europe,’ in which he will propose an itinerary retracing the influence that the Bible has had on European art and culture in all its forms of expression.

The biblical scholar will examine the history and tradition of Europe in the light of a threefold reading of the scriptures: that which makes it relevant and still present today, that which deforms it into degenerate versions and that which transfigures and enriches it, going beyond the reading of the text to grasp the symbolic value of figures, themes, narratives, events and characters.

Passages from the Old Testament (Genesis, Job and Sirach) and the New Testament (Luke and John) will be read by the actor Manuela Mandracchia. On Wednesday 15 May, at 9 pm, the philosopher Massimo Cacciari, will deliver a speech on 'The philosophies of the sunset', in which he will illustrate how, between the 19th and 20th centuries, great philosophers, historians, and sociologists, all animated by a radically critical and non-conformist spirit, analysed the cultural and political crisis of Europe and predicted its catastrophe. It was the century in which Europe went to war, singing the praises of progress and the fortunes of economics and technology, in which 'futurism' broke with tradition and a new thought emerged: nihilism, which we are still coming to terms with.

The philosophical texts (Nietzsche, Kraus and Spengler) will be read by the actor Paola De Crescenzo. On Wednesday, 5 June, at 9 pm, the Latinist, Ivano Dionigi, Director of the Study Centre 'La permanenza del classico’ will conclude with the theme of 'The Legacy of Rome'. A triple legacy: a linguistic legacy, which until the 19th century and beyond marked the three European universalisms: empire, church and science; a legal legacy, which founded European civil law; and a political legacy, as a model of inclusion: from the reception of neighbouring peoples by the founder Romulus to the extension of citizenship rights to conquered peoples by the emperors. This is why Rome, even more than Jerusalem and Athens, should be seen as the origin of the European idea and identity.

The classical texts (Virgil, Seneca, Tacitus and Kavafis) will be read by the actor Sonia Bergamasco. ‘At a time when we are tempted to withdraw into ourselves, to reduce every solution to slogans and to identify truth with the novelty of the present, it seems not only opportune and useful, but necessary and urgent to promote a common reflection on our future and - as Ivano Dionigi, referring to the classical authors explains - listen to 'the cry of thought' and 'to look backwards and forwards at the same time.’