We have dignity because we are children of God, Pope tells biblical scholars

September 16, 2016

Pope Francis received members of the Italian Biblical Association on September 15 and referred to the theme of the association’s meeting, “Let us be human beings … male and female: declinations of the man-woman polarity in the Scriptures.”

“Reflecting on how we were created, formed in the image and semblance of the Creator, and the differences with other creatures and with all creation is essential,” the Pope said during the audience, which took place in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace.

“This helps us to understand the dignity that all of us, men and women, have, a dignity that has its roots in the same Creator,” he continued. “It has always struck me that our dignity is indeed that of being sons of God.”

This dignity, the Pope warned, can “degrade” through idolatry, as when the Israelites in the desert worshiped a calf.

“And the idol was gold: this leads us to think of the attractive power of wealth, of the fact that man loses his dignity when in his heart wealth takes the place of God,” Pope Francis commented.

 

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Further information:

• Udienza all’Associazione Biblica Italiana, 15.09.2016 (Holy See Press Office)
• The Pope receives the Italian Biblical Association: spread the dignity of being sons of God, 15.09.2016 (Holy See Press Office)