VATICAN - Apostolic Letter of the Holy Father, on the occasion of the 8th Centenary of the death of Blessed John Duns Scotus: “Solid as he was in the Catholic Faith, he made all efforts to understand, explain, and defend the truths of the faith through the light of human reason.”

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father Benedict XVI sent an apostolic letter to the Archbishop of Cologne, Cardinal Joachim Meisner, and the participants in the International Scientific Congress, on the occasion of the 8th Centenary of the death of Blessed John Duns Scotus. In the Letter, the Pope recalls his important contribution to progress in the Church's teachings and in human science.
The Pope writes: “We desire, therefore, to call all learned men and women as well as all believers and non believers to the path trodden by Scotus, a path that underscores the harmony between faith and reason; a path that defines the nature of theology, which is oriented toward life and love, rather than mere speculation. When doing this work, he allowed himself to be guided both by the Magisterium of the Church and from a healthy critical sense in the knowledge of the truth. He was convinced that science has value insofar as it is realized in deeds. Solid as he was in the Catholic Faith, he made all efforts to understand, explain, and defend the truths of the faith through the light of human reason. Therefore, he did nothing except exert himself to show the harmony between natural and supernatural truths which issue from one and the same Source.”
Next to Sacred Scripture, which is divinely inspired, John Duns Scotus places the authority of the Church, and he frequently underscores especially the supreme authority of the Successor of St. Peter. “Therefore, the Catholic Church – who was entrusted by Christ, her invisible head, to the Vicars in both the blessed Peter and his successors, and guided by the Spirit – is the authentic custodian of the deposit and rule of faith. The Church is a solid and stable criterion of the canonicity of Sacred Scripture.”
In the concluding part of the apostolic letter, Benedict XVI mentions that “what he underscores most of the primacy of the will is that God is, first of all, charity. Duns Scotus has this charity, this love, before him when he wants to lead theology to one goal, that is, to a practical theology...Faithful disciple of Saint Francis of Assisi that he was, Blessed John contemplated and preached assiduously the Incarnation and salvific Passion of the Son of God. Yet, the charity or love of Christ is manifested in a special way not only on Calvary, but also in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist...This Sacrament, moreover, is a sacrament of unity and love. By means of it, we are induced to love one another mutually and to love God as the supreme good. And just as this love, this charity was the beginning of all things, so in heaven our beatitude consists in love and charity.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 22/12/2008)